By Ross Blouin

Ida Azzolino, daughter of Marianna Nicoli Solari and John Solari was a life-long resident of Somerville. She was born in September 1912 at her grandmother’s home on Board Alley in the North End of Boston and then brought home to live on Somerville Ave at Porter Square. Ida would have been 104 years old in September.

She remembered her beloved Red Sox winning their first World Series in 1918 and she lived to see them win again in the twenty first century. Ida would reminisce about gas lamps, rationing in World War I and playing on Somerville Avenue before it was paved. She was witness to the transition from horse and carriage to the first electric streetcars and automobiles and first airplanes.

Ida’s family was the first on her street to have electricity and she remembered showing her friends the electric light. She lived through 18 Presidencies, The Great Depression, World War II and watched man land on the moon. Then she retired and lived for another 33 years.

Ida had to drop out of her senior year, 1928, at Somerville High School to help support her family. She became a licensed hairdresser and worked in Davis Square during the Depression. By this time her family had moved to their home at 13 Josephine Avenue where she resided until she was married to her husband, Philip Azzolino, in 1938.

They returned from their honeymoon when the Great Hurricane of 1938 struck the region and caused incredible destruction. Ida purchased her home on Curtis Street in 1951 and resided there until she died peacefully, at home on August first.

Ida loved living in Somerville and had many friends throughout the years. Her favorite activity was playing Bingo at the Somerville Council On Aging at Holland Street. Ida would attend the games on Thursdays and Fridays and she was known for wearing a different outfit on each day. Ida loved what she called “The Club,” and all the ladies and gentlemen who attended with her.

Ida was very active at St. Clement’s Parish as a member of Charismatic and a daily communicant for 33 years. Ida represented St. Clement’s at the church’s 100th Anniversary in 2012 as she had known all the Pastors from 1912 to 2012.

Ida was predeceased by her eldest brother, Frank Solari, and her brothers Albert, John, Charles, and Edward. She was also predeceased by her sisters: Helen, Rose, Louise and Margaret. Ida is survived by one sister, Evelyn O’Hare of Belmont.

Ida was predeceased by her husband, Philip in 1963, and is survived by her son Philip and his wife, Nanvy Gordon Azzolino, of Sudbury. Ida is also survived by her daughter Diane and husband Ross Blouin, of Somerville. She is also survived by her five beloved grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway Somerville, Ma. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. at St. Clement’s Church, Warner St. Somerville, Ma. Burial will be private.