Obituary of Raffaella Merolla

July 26, 1940 - November 5, 2022

Raffaella Merolla.  Age 82 of Southgate.

Beloved wife of the late Nicola.  Loving mother of Ninetta (Joe) Menna, Frank (Shanna), Nick (Maria), Tony (Stacy) and John (Melanie).  Dearest grandmother of Nico, Nick, Joe, Phillip, Madeline, Tony (Porsha), Michael, Alexandria, Timothy, Jenna, Blake, Avery and Logan. Dear sister of Frank Pari.
 

Family Tribute  ~

Raffaella (Nee: Pari) Merolla was born in Falciano del Massico, Italy in July of 1940.  As a child, she lived in a convent where she worked and went to school.  Raffaella then immigrated to the Detroit area as a teenager.  She shared stories of being a nanny and spending the summer on Mackinac Island. She returned to Italy in 1959 where she married her husband Nicola Merolla.  They lived in the Delray area of Detroit where their family was started, with the birth of their firstborn daughter, Antonietta, and their son, Frank, a few years later. They purchased their first and only home in Southgate, Michigan in 1969 where Nick was soon born followed by Anthony. Years later the good Lord blessed them with their youngest son, John.   

Sundays were the best days at the Merolla home.  The smell of fresh bread baking in the oven, sauce on the stove, Italian music playing in the background, and the windows fogging over from all of her cooking.  Everyone was always welcome at the table (not the dining room table, which was for adults only) and you never left hungry or empty-handed.  Her children can say they haven't bought a bottle of olive oil in 10-plus years.  After raising her 5 children, she began working in the food industry at Ford Motor Company where she retired.  She worked very hard and everyone loved her.  She learned lots of new American words there that her kids would tell her what it meant or not to say. 

Raffaella was loved by all family, friends, and neighbors.  Even people at the store that she would strike up a conversation with. She enjoyed her garden and shared everything that came out of it with others.  She loved cooking and spending time with her family. Her faith in God never wavered.  She never questioned the battles she was given to face. She was a caretaker for so many and never expected anything in return. Raffaella will be remembered for her smile, laugh, and love for feeding others her Italian dishes. Se Dio Vuole (If God is willing).  Statetevi Accorti (Be careful).
 

Memorial contributions to St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital are greatly appreciated.