Adelia Lombardi

Adelia Ellero Lombardi was able to live the American Dream. But more than that, she was able to play an active role in realizing this dream for her entire family.

Adelia spent her early years under the government of Mussolini, having been born in North Eastern Italy on February 3, 1918. Here, in the town of San Daniele Del Friuli, Adelia spent the first seven years of her life. Her father, Giovanni Ellero, had moved to America in hopes of giving his family a better life.

Soon, Giovanni had earned enough money working for Ford Motor Company to bring his wife and children to America. Adelia, her mother Teresa, and two of her siblings, Romano and Maria, came to join her father and oldest brother Pietro, in 1926. After completing a 12 day journey across the Atlantic Ocean, the Ellero family was together once again. Adelia was only 7, but she would never forget the day her father met them at Ellis Island. Giovanni led his family back to Detroit, where they began to make the American Dream a reality.

Adelia had attended school in Italy through the second grade and in America she continued her education at Santa Maria School. After completing the eighth grade, Adelia began working to help support her family. The Great Depression was hitting America hard, but the Ellero family had not moved themselves across the ocean to be defeated by an economic downturn. They had already survived more trying experiences in Italy, and they were determined to see success in America.

By 1937, Adelia was beginning to see the light around the corner. Though the world climate was beginning to heat up again, Adelia had fallen in love. She and Guido Lombardi had a two-year courtship, marrying in June of 1939.

Soon after the wedding, America entered World War II. Like thousands of patriotic women, Adelia did her part to support the cause. She became a "Rosie the Riveter" at the defense plant in Detroit. Her efforts helped to make America the Arsenal of Democracy, putting an end to the regime that had overtaken her native Italy in the preceding years.

Adelia and Guido had their first three children over the next 11 years. In 1948, Guido moved his family into the home he had built on Littlefield Street in Detroit. Here, the family welcomed their fourth child.

Though Adelia was leading a successful life in America, her thoughts were of her homeland. She often recalled with fondness the people and places of her childhood, helping her uncle John on his farm, singing Italian Folk songs while harvesting corn, and watching the colorful Gypsy Caravans as they would pass through her village. "Everyone in our town helped each other." she said, "We all depended on one another to survive, and became a family".

Living in a medieval stone house, she remembered with fondness gathering branches for firewood with her dear mother and family to cook with and keep warm.

Adelia spoke of having received a single orange for Christmas which she shared with her childhood friends. She said this felt as if she were the richest girl in the world.

Although she appreciated the opportunities America gave her, she could not help but desire to return to the place that had formed her very first memories.

In 1957, Adelia with her daughter, Susan, returned to Italy. As they arrived at the docks in San Daniele Del Friuli, they were met by the open arms of Adelia’s aunt Cidalia and uncle John. They were overcome with joy, having never thought this moment would arrive. Adelia returned to the United States with new memories of Italy, memories that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

As Adelia watched her children grow and prosper in America, she was able to realize one of her own goals that had eluded her for years. In 1984, at the age of 66, she went back to school to earn her high school diploma. She then continued to learn about the subjects that interested her, attending a variety of classes at Oakland Community College.

Adelia lived an extraordinary life, witnessing some of the most significant events of the twentieth century. For her, however, being able to provide a better life for her family was the most rewarding accomplishment of all.

Adelia Ellero Lombardi passed away on April 12, 2004, with her family by her side. She was the beloved wife of Guido; dear mother of Guido Jr. (Carol), Gino, Susan (Walter) Zambelli and Dennis; grandmother of Dino (Cheri), Nicole (Sean), and Jim; dear great grandmother of Leana, Garbriella, Caiden and Dominick; sister of Maria Celotti, Romano Ellero, and Pietro Ellero. Service will be at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 mile Rd., Farmington Hills, on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Also at Holy Family Catholic Church in Novi MI for 10:30 a.m. Mass. Visitation on Friday from 2-9 p.m., with a 7:30pm Rosary.