Margherita Chiabrera Lovisa, 101, of Kennett Square, died Friday, Feb. 19.
Her life story began when she was born on Jan. 31, 1920, in Sanpierdarena (Genoa), Italy, to Guglielmo and Maria Giuseppina Chiabrera. For the first few years of her life, she was wet-nursed and raised by the wonderful Doglio family of Ponti (Piemonte), who had seven children of their own. When she returned to the Chiabrera family, in their hometown of Rivalta Bormida (Piemonte). She grew up with her six brothers and sisters.
She considered herself very lucky to have two families in her life who loved her. She remained close to her siblings and the Doglio children throughout her life, always corresponding and visiting during her trips back to Italy.
After graduating from school, she worked in Genoa and in France. she especially enjoyed working for the glamorous Beaumonts of the Villa Eilenroc, Cap D’Antibes, who were neighbors to the Duke of Windsor. Unfortunately, with the Nazis invading France, she was advised that it was no longer safe on the French Riviera and so she returned to her native Italy.
Margherita embarked on another life journey when she married Luigi Lovisa in June 1948. She returned with him to the U.S. thru Ellis Island, settling in Kennett Square where they owned their own mushroom farm. She dedicated herself to caring for her husband, raising two daughters, and helping with her grandsons. She was a great Italian cook, especially her pasta with pesto and meat ravioli were the best. They celebrated 54 years of marriage before Luigi passed in 2002.
A reserved, quiet person, she believed in a life of moderation. The key to a happy life, she said, is to live in the moment, not thinking of the past, and not worrying about the future.
She will be forever missed by her loving daughters, Wilma Illgas and Irene Lovisa-Pucci, and by her cherished grandsons, Michael and Joseph Illgas. She was pre-deceased by her siblings; Biagio, Caterina (Francescon), Pietro, Ester (Testa), Manlio, and Giselda (Pesce)
Her funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 212 Meredith Street, Kennett Square, followed by burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery Kennett Square.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com
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