Ramona DeLegge's Obituary
Ramona DeLegge, aged 74, died on October 1st, 2016 in her home after a brief struggle post bloodless Whipple surgery. Ramona was born on November 19, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Romeo Frugoli and Mabel Hornbaker. Her Unit J-111 at Citation Gardens Co-Op #4, Tucson, Arizona, was purchased for her in June of 1982 by her mother and father.
In her words, Ramona says, “I had 2 brothers & 4 sisters. My father was married twice, his first wife was my aunt, who had 3 children and then died. She was buried in the family plot miles away from Chicago. The children & Romeo were there so Lulu’s family could help. Two of the children returned to Chicago with my mother, Mabel & Romeo. A year later they were married, a year later children were born; 4 over the next 12 years. It was a very dysfunctional family. We children knew our parents loved us. Papa was Catholic [non-practicing] mother-Presperterian. I went to both churches, and decided that in order to have peace in a family you both must be of the same religion.
At 19 I became pregnant, married, and became a catholic, like my husband was. In those days a pregnant girl-unmarried was sent away and usually gave the baby up for adoption, I thought my husband truly loved me, as I did him. We were married 17 years and had 4 children. We lived in Chicago and about 1964-5, a Jehovah’s Witness came to our door, and my husband was surprised and interested. My husband went to a seminary school so he had some knowledge of religion, and was able to converse with the witness that came to our home. He was too advanced for me so the wise brother sent a sister over to study with me. I don’t remember how long we studied, but when it came time to get baptized we both did because a good wife did what her husband said. I didn’t feel like I knew enough. We moved out of the city to Des Plaines Illinois and went to a Kingdom Hall near our home. We were all active until I became sick with cancer. My last baby was born in 1972, and in that year I had surgery. The sisters and brothers from the Kingdom Hall were so good to us. They cooked meals, cleaned house, did laundry and helped with the children for months. My baby was sent to my younger sister’s home for a year, as in 1973 I had radiation. I was sick a long time. I don’t know to this day which brothers and sisters did what; all I know is they were there daily and told me they loved me and were praying for me. They organized everything-did everything!”
Ramona was known as “Mona”, “Monie” to her family and as “The Mona-Lisa” to those whom she worked 15 years as a Medical Receptionist in an Urgent Care in Tucson. Ramona watched painfully as her supervisor and life-long friend Nellie M. Gonzalez, whom she loved, fought cancer until August 11, 2007 when Nellie died in Nogales, Mexico. Ramona enjoyed association with a motorcycle club called the Sun Riders and raised money and toys for children on “Toy Runs.”
Ramona held positions on the Board of Directors at the Citation Gardens Co-Op #4 for over 30 years. She continued to be a large part of the decisions and community throughout her residency in Tucson. All of the residents in her 44 unit dwelling will miss her and all her hard work for them and their property.
Ramona Frugoli graduated from Lucy L. Flower High School, one of the Chicago Public High Schools, on June 24th, 1960. She worked hard for her diploma and was pleased to have made her father proud as a high school graduate.
Ramona married Louis DeLegge, her childhood sweetheart, from Taylor Street, Little Itay, Chicago, Illinois. Ramona and Louis had three children: Louie, Laura and Tina, then moved to the suburbs of Chicago where Ramona had her baby boy, Larry. In addition to raising their four children, she enjoyed family and friends as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses while living on Lawn Lane in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Ramona moved to Tucson after a divorce from Louis. Ramona’s brother Joseph Frugoli died June 29, 1976. Ramona began a journey of missing many loved ones in death. A dear friend Darrell Brunswick known as “Pedro” died from a motorcycle injury on June 29, 1990 and many other Sun Riders, while missing her dad, Romeo, who passed away in Tucson on December 17, 1990.
Ramona grieved her fiancé and brother’s friend, Thomas Kempf from July 22, 1995 on, her brother Jerry who died October 26, 1995, and finally her beloved mother who passed June 24, 1996. Thomas James Kempf, was a friend of the family and a decorated purple-heart marine. Tom loved Mona and loved living with Mona until his death. He wrote her a poem that she kept on the wall. “You’re the reason I am having a real nice day. I am always thinking of you - - . That’s a feeling that only comes from the heart – and my heart is in good hands. Love you.”
Ramona is survived by her sisters Ange, Cammie, Alice and Phyllis and six great-grandchildren, Lucy and Samantha, Sarah and Maggie, Adilea, and one on the way from Ryan and Ali, twenty grandchildren Beth, Ryan, Louie IV, Dominick, Michael, Jenny, Joey, Johnny, Vinnie, Luke, Paul, Sam, Nina, Nick, Ryan and Andrew Golden, Katy and Jessica Homerin, Madison Taylor and Giovanni DeLegge.
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