VIOLA ANTONETTE ZILIO's Obituary
Viola Zilio passed away peacefully in her bed at 8:28am this morning. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Angelo Zilio, father, Francesco Andolfatto, mother Oliva Andolfatto, sister Antoinette Andolfatto and brother John Andolfatto.
Viola was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1932. She learned grit and determination thru surviving the Great Depression. Frank worked construction and work was hard to find, so by age 9 Viola had lived in 7 houses in 3 states. Also by age 9, she had ridden the New York City subway alone and shaken the hand of FDR when he got out of his limo as it passed Viola and other school crossing guards.
Viola was humble about her intelligence. She was advanced from 1st grade to 3rd, and graduated high school as Valedictorian at age 16. She wanted to go to college but her dad apologized, saying there was no money for that so she’d have to earn a scholarship. Viola was happy to return home one day and tell her dad that she earned a free ride to George Washington University, where she graduated at age 20 with a math degree. In fact, she was invited to join Mensa and chose not to, not wanting to come off as superior to others.
Shortly thereafter, she started a long distance relationship with Angelo Zilio, and in 1956 they married and Viola moved to Detroit. With Viola’s brain, education and ambition, she aspired to be an actuary. In 1958, Viola became pregnant with Paul, and Angelo asked her to “retire”. In1959, Paul was born. Possibly because Paul was (is?) a handful, Angelo and Viola only had one child, and that retirement came in handy.
Viola volunteered at Paul’s grade school, St. Raymond’s. Possibly because Paul was a handful and Viola was afraid he’d be kicked out of school. In fact, she volunteered so often that Angelo said if I’d have known that, I’d have had you get a paying job! Viola just smiled.
Viola was a tireless server: she took the elderly and widows grocery shopping, entertained young children with working moms, prepared countless tax returns for parishioners of her local Catholic Church, and so much more. She was determined to change the world, by loving one person at a time.
But her focus was primarily on raising Paul. Did I mention that he was a handful? As a toddler, Paul was playing ball with Viola in the backyard. He had to go to the bathroom, but instead pushed a chair to the kitchen sink, put the stopper in, ran the water, and returned to playing ball in the backyard. By the time Viola came back inside, the water had overflowed and was cascading downstairs to the basement! Another time when they played ball in the backyard, Paul again had to go to the bathroom and said, “Here, mom, hold my worms!”. Indoors, Viola played countless games with Paul and was partly responsible for instilling in him a fiercely competitive nature that some rue to this day. OK, that wasn’t Viola’s fault.
Academically, those genes and guidance allowed Paul to thrive in math, but in the other classes, not so much. Viola tirelessly, patiently kept Paul focused, the best she could. She beamed as Paul graduated from De La Salle High School and then the University of Michigan in 1981
The Great Recession of 1982 forced Angelo into early retirement at age 58 and Paul to be transferred to Miami. Viola was up for the challenge. She spent the rest of Angelo’s life ensuring he was engaged and full of life, and he was. And no matter how heartbroken Viola was that Paul had moved 1,000 miles to state where he didn’t know a soul, Viola convinced Paul that this was a success and great thing.
On April 25, 1984, Paul went on a date with Mayra.
On April 26, 1984, Paul called mom and dad about the date.
On April 27, 1984, Viola sent her mom a handwritten letter (which she sent every week of her adult life) and wrote that, “Paul dated a girl and said that girl ‘has potential’”. We now have that letter. Strong emotions indeed from Paul!
On August 3, 1985, Paul and Mayra wed.
In 1988, Paul and Mayra were blessed with Lynette, and in 1992 with Bernie. Viola felt so blessed!
In 1998, Viola and Angelo were sitting around. Wise Viola asked, “If I died, where would you live?” Angelo replied, “I’d move next to Paul.” Viola said, “Me, too, so why don’t we move there while we are both alive!
Viola continued to ensure she and Angelo stayed active. They attended every school activity and sport Lynette and Bernie were in, often driving classmates. They attended every City Council meeting. And doctor visits were always spiced up by a stop at the best cafecito spots!
In 2010, Angelo was diagnosed with cancer. As she was throughout their marriage, Viola was an amazing wife and cared for Angelo until he passed away later that year. Before Angelo passed, he told Paul, “care for your mom because I think her mind is slipping.” And slowly but surely the Alzheimer journey began.
In 2015, Viola moved to a senior facility. However, due to Viola’s bronchiectasis and the questionable hygiene in senior facilities, Viola had to move out and into a condo near Paul and Mayra. By 2017, she needed assistance, and by 2019, round-the-clock care (by absolute angels) and could no longer drive. But Viola’s joy endured, blessing those who interacted with her.
In 2017, Lynette married Chris.
In 2023, Bernie married Nate and 10 months later that were blessed with Enzo.
In 2025, Lynette and Chris had Emmy (middle name of Viola!).
And Viola so loved her growing family, and how united they were!
In 2024, Viola could no longer speak, walk or get into a car, so she entered hospice. That experience was such a blessing, and Viola’s joy remained. She loved daily wheelchair rides to Vito’s the Cuban bakery 3 blocks away. And on Sunday mornings, that was followed by 10:30 mass at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, which Viola considered home. The caretakers kept Viola full of life, as she’d like it, so much so that she attended Blessed Trinity mass 11 days before passing and Vito’s just the day before!
Viola taught those around her so much:
Extend God’s grace to everyone, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Every Sunday, life revolves around mass
Life is more black and white than you think. God doesn’t see the world in grays.
Always serve, and put the needs of others first.
Everything matters, so put your all into everything.
And in closing: as the years past, Paul often compared his family to the Holy Family: Viola seemingly without blemish like Mary, Angelo a strong provider and father like Joseph, and Paul…oh well, two out of three. So fitting that Viola passed away on Holy Thursday, she would so have loved to be in church tonight.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Virginia Gardens/Miami Springs, FL, which enriched the Zilio family and faith community. Contributions can be made securely online through the link below:
https://www.wesharegiving.org/App/Form/be60ddc9-a117-4351-8268-4f41368ea709
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