Ida Concetta (Connie) Di Sera Colosimo

We have lost the strong and incredible matriarch of our large Italian-American family. After three years of struggles following a fall during the COVID lockdown, she is reunited with her beloved Gale.

Ida Concetta (Connie) Disera was born in the Comune of Caramanico, Provincia di Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy, to Flamminio (Grandpa Fram) Disera and Cesidia Alberico (Grandma D). She grew up in the even smaller village of San Vittorino. Her father left Italy to work in the mines of Utah shortly after his wedding in 1922, sending much of his paycheck back home. Fram would return to Italy after 10 years and meet his ten year old son only to be forced to leave his pregnant wife and son, for work in America once again. He hoped this would be a temporary fix for the hard times in Italy, as he always intended to return to his homeland.

Life was good for young Ida and Grandma D, as she was later known in America. The money coming from America was used to buy land and grow food. Most of the villagers were not as fortunate as Grandma D and Ida, but the two were kind and generous, feeding those in need and helping to care for her sister’s eight children, the Colafella cousins, who now reside in Boston. Grandma D always wanted her daughter to look good (comparisce!), one of the Abruzzese dialect terms used by her mother. Thanks to the Utah paychecks, they had money for a few extras, which allowed Connie to have a new dress made for every feast day (which seems to occur about once a week in Italy). She claimed that this is why she developed such a penchant for fine clothes. She was well known and loved at Nordstrom’s.

When World War II started, the peaceful village life became more difficult. Nazi soldiers marched into the village, demanding food and even Grandma D’s wedding ring. Due to the geography of the area, they could see their arrival, and everyone sprang into action, hiding food and other valuables. Young Connie climbed into the back of the barn, hidden by firewood. She rushed home but realized she forgot to shut the barn door. By the time she returned, a German soldier was there threatening to shoot her if she didn’t show him where the food was. She quickly shut it and ran off because she was more afraid of her mother than the German’s gun.

The family was eventually reunited in 1948. Grandpa Fram met his 15 year old daughter for the first time in America. Connie always mourned that she didn’t have more time with her Father. Grandpa Fram realized he was never going back to Italy, and the family settled in Magna, Utah. Ida Concetta became Connie, because Americans could not correctly pronounce Ida(Eda). The first time Gabriel Colosimo, her future husband, saw her was at mass at Our Lady of Lourdes. It was love at first sight. The handsome and charming Gale Colosimo was the “catch of the town,” and more than a few hearts were broken when on October 22, 1951, Connie and Gale were married.
The next 14 years, they went on to have eight children in whom they raised in their Catholic faith. Thanks to a directive from Father Freegard, all eight took the bus from Magna to St. Ann’s Grade School, then Judge Memorial. She and Gale were so proud that all eight also graduated from the University of Utah.

Connie was the consummate wife, mother, and grandmother. Her ability to produce large amounts of delicious food is unrivaled in the family.  She was a meatball production machine at the Our Lady of Lourdes Magna Spaghetti Dinner, as well as a constant figure in the St. Ann’s lunchroom. We don’t know how she did it, but she never missed any of her five sons’ football or basketball games. She knew the rules of football better than most men. Later, she carried on this impossible tradition for her 21 grandchildren, rarely missing sports events, swim meets, concerts, school plays, and college graduations all over the country.
Colosimo family Christmases were something to behold. Along with 38 kids, spouses, and grandkids, there were always friends and spouses’ families and even grandkids’ spouses’ families. She hosted these “productions” well into her 80s. She generally tried to keep the family together and in line. For friends of the family who were not lucky enough to have one, she was everyone’s Italian grandmother. Her meatballs, lasagna, and homemade pasta were something to look forward to all year.

In her later years, Connie worked out at the gym and even had a former NFL player as her personal trainer. She golfed with the Mick Riley Ladies League along with her daughters and daughters-in-law. She attended daily mass at St. Vincent’s with her new “young” friends, which always included coffee or breakfast afterward.
The isolation of COVID was especially hard for Connie, as she couldn’t go out and “paparian” (Calabrese dialect). After several falls, she was confined to a wheelchair but was happy to be in her own home. The family wishes to thank Zoila, Alopa and team for their loving care.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gabriel Colosimo, brother Leonard Disera, and grandson Adam Colosimo. She is survived by her daughters Roseanne (Jerry Webber), Nancy (Daniel Gibbs), and Mary (Jim Markosian), and sons John Colosimo (Kathie), Gabriel Colosimo (Beth), Paul Colosimo (Sara), Larry Colosimo (Jean), and Joe Colosimo (Lori). She was the beloved “Grandma Connie” to her 21 grandchildren: Matt, Michael, Robbie, Danny, Justin, Chris, Lizzie, Gianna, Julia, Gabe, Dominic,  Maddie, Lucy, Sam, Jamie, Nick, Andrew, Adam, Gina, Lucas, and Taitlynn (Tannen). She was also blessed with 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT. A rosary service will be held on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1375 Spring Lane, Holladay, Utah , where friends may call from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4th Ave.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Adam Colosimo Foundation. https://donorbox.org/ac2