Avis K De Iuliis

May 19, 1925 — March 20, 2024

Lyndhurst, Ohio

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Avis De Iuliis on March 20, 2024, just two months shy of her 99th birthday.

Avis was born in 1925 to Hurley and Bessie Thomas in Marshville, NC. Those who lived during the great depression knew hardship and the true value of things. She was raised on a farm with 12 brothers and sisters, Avis being the 4th oldest. She came to Cleveland in 1944, finding work at Graphite Bronze (Gould). Joseph De Iuliis had come to Cleveland from PA to find work after briefly serving in WWII. Little did they know that they would meet at work, marry in 1946 and eventually have four children. What a handsome couple they were! Avis raised the children and kept the home and yard while Joe worked as a mechanic. He bought and ran a Texaco station at Five Points [where St. Clair Ave., E. 152nd St. and Ivanhoe Rd. come together] in Collinwood, enabling the family to purchase a bungalow in the suburb of Lyndhurst which they moved into on Halloween 1953 and stayed.

Avis was a hard worker, a great seamstress and fabulous cook/bake (of both Southern and Italian fare) – all from scratch. She excelled at learning the botanical names of flowers and shrubs and created and maintained a park-like yard – also from scratch. She never drove, preferring to be chauffeured by Joe or one of the kids once they learned to drive – truly driving Miss Avis! She enjoyed refinishing furniture which led to her becoming a vendor at mall antique shows for many years. She loved “pretty” things and liked to collect them – dolls, lamps, perfume bottles, costume jewelry, figurines – if it was pretty, she collected it.

Avis was married to Joseph for 73 years until Joe’s death in 2019, and is survived by their four children: Edward (Cecelia), Anthony (Judy-deceased), Diane Conroy (Terry -deceased), Jennifer De Iuliis-Petras (Timothy); 5 grandchildren: Toni Marie Conant (Chad), Jeffrey De Iuliis (Michael), Brian Helms (Jennifer), Michelle De Iuliis (Milos), Bethany Hockenberry (Brian); and 6 great grandchildren: Connor, Brayden, Wyatt, Gabby, Christopher and Caleb. She is also survived by siblings Barbara Thomas (Wayne-deceased), Charles (Elsie-deceased, Sandra), Jimmy (Wanda) and many nieces and nephews; preceded in death by siblings and their spouses Hubert (WWII veteran KIA at the invasion of Normandy), Mildred Parker (Cull), Bill (Doris, Janey), Bobby (Katy), Betty Rape (Odell), Brackie (Joanne, Mickie), Lucille King (Carl), Doris Staton (Reece) and Shirley Lee (Ralph).

Syble Zion currently of Asheville, NC was Avis’s oldest and dearest friend with whom she came to Cleveland all those years ago. They worked together in Charlotte, NC before coming to Cleveland and have kept in touch over the years – they were like sisters. Special thanks to David Hanson and Diane Liberatore (Joe and Avis’s neighbors for over 30 years) who kept a close eye on things and were always there to help in any way they could – just like family. Thanks also to the nurses and aides at Richmond Heights Place Skilled Nursing Facility and Echo Hospice. Their kindness, compassion and professionalism was greatly appreciated by the family.

In lieu of flowers, Avis would love if you planted a flower in your garden and smiled with her as it bloomed each year.

Entombment All Souls Cemetery. Prayers of Christian Burial 11am Saturday at THE FIORITTO FUNERAL HOME, 5236 MAYFIELD RD, LYNDHURST (E OF RICHMOND RD) WHERE FRIENDS MAY CALL FROM 10AM UNTIL TIME OF SERVICE.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Avis K De Iuliis, please visit our flower store.

Send a Card

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, March 23, 2024

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Fioritto Funeral Home

5236 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124

Get Directions Plant Trees

Prayers of Christian Burial

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Fioritto Funeral Home

5236 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124

Get Directions Plant Trees

Entombment

Saturday, March 23, 2024

All Souls Cemetery

10366 Chardon Rd, Chardon, OH 44024

Get Directions Plant Trees

Avis K De Iuliis

May 19, 1925 — March 20, 2024

Lyndhurst, Ohio

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Prayers of Christian Burial

Entombment

Guestbook