Ishpeming – Viola M. "Vi" Grasso, age 89, longtime Ishpeming resident passed away on Monday July 12, 2010 at the Norlite Nursing Center in Marquette.


Viola was born October 8, 1920 in Negaunee the daughter of the late Gust and Sofia (Lehtinen) Sippola. She graduated from the Negaunee High School, Class of 1937. After graduation she worked in the dress factory in Negaunee making mosquito tents for the war effort in the early 1940's.


In August 1942 she married Ernest S. Grasso at the St. John's Catholic Church in Ishpeming. Living in Ishpeming, she went to work at the H.W. Gossard Co. as a seamstress. After raising her family, she again worked at the Gossard until its closure.


Most important to Vi was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Viola enjoyed cooking, with her family favorite being spaghetti and meatballs along with other Italian specialties. Vi was a member of the Paisano Club.


After her husband passed away in 1980, she continued living in Ishpeming, until 2000 when she moved to Lost Creek Village in Marquette. While there she cherished taking care of her flowers which her children planted, feeding the birds and squirrels along with watching the deer from her patio.


Survivors include a son Ernest F. (Kathy) Grasso of Ishpeming, Rosemary (Mick) Kulie of Crystal Falls, three grandchildren – Anthony Kulie of Ishpeming, Dean (Karena) Grasso of Negaunee, and Dana Grasso of Ishpeming, two great grandchildren Mandi and Joey Grasso, brother Leo of Milwaukee, WI, along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers – Reino and Arvo Sippola, and a sister Taimi Laitala.


A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 3:00pm on Friday July 16, 2010 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Fr. Greg Heikkala to officiate. The family will greet relatives and friends from 1:00pm until the time of services on Friday at the church. Inurnment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.