Marie (Sofia) DiLuciano graduated from Lorain High School with the Class of 1947B. She loved her experience at Lorain High. She spoke of attending movies after lunch period, going to the football games, and participating in intramurals. She was extremely proud that she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a school aide, participated in clubs, and was involved with dramatics. Most of all, she met the love of her life, Al DiLuciano.
Born to Italian immigrant parents, receiving her high school diploma was important; but higher education was not. Besides, her focus was marrying Al and raising a family. She and Al married on February 18, 1950. Marie passed away just shy of their 60th anniversary. They had four children—Sue, Randy, Alice, and Russ.
In the mid-60s, her husband Al and several partners began a business that manufactures plastic welding rods. Because they worked full time and could not perform the day-to-day operations of the business, Marie stepped in. Despite her lack of higher education, her hard work and dedication enabled the business to flourish with her taking care of the ordering, contacting and working with the customers, and managing the financial aspect of the business. Marie was a pioneer in a sense. She worked and managed a business before it was common for women to be involved in running a business especially one that sells products globally. Along with raising children, managing a household, taking care of elderly parents, and later babysitting grandkids, she succeeded in being instrumental in creating a successful business. The business, V & A Process, Inc., continues to operate under the ownership of her four children.
Marie was also active in her Church, St. Peter’s Parish where she was a member of the Holy Name Society, a home visitor for homebound and nursing homes, and taught PSR classes. She was involved in service clubs such as Serra Club, St. Francis Mission Group, II Century Council, and Lakeland Woman’s Club.
She truly loved God; people; her City of Lorain; and, most of all, her family.