Edward Marsilio

A man of honor, integrity, and sound moral character, Edward Marsilio made an extraordinary impact in the lives around him. He was an Italian through and through who loved telling colorful stories of times gone by. Edward was the sort of person who knew what he wanted, and he rarely hesitated to share his opinion with just the right amount of spunk mixed in. It goes without saying that he knew what it meant to work hard as his impeccable work ethic was truly unmatched. With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Edward made the most of the days he was given while holding his loved ones close to his heart. He will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Although WWI officially ended in 1919, there were still vast amounts of unrest in Italy during the years that followed. Mussolini devoted his time and energy to attacking the official Socialist party as well as all those who supposedly harmed Italy’s interests by advocating neutrality. As someone who held firm to the notion that violence is a necessary part of the Socialist program, it became vital to Mussolini’s own politics throughout much of the 1920s. It was during this eventful time in the world around them that a young couple from Bugnara, Italy, was pleased to announce the birth of their son, Edward, on December 3, 1920. He was the only child born to his parents, Vincenzo and Anna (Santilli) Marsilio, and he was raised in the family home in the Aquila Province of Bugnara during his earliest years. In 1936 when he was 15 years old, Edward came to America with his mother where he completed high school.

As a young man Ed served in the United States Army during the days of WWII. He was a PFC in Company E of the 120th Infantry where he was an Intelligence Observer 631. Edward was awarded with numerous medals and awards throughout his time in the service including the Victory Medal, 3 Service Bars, American Theater, European-African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, and Purple Heart GO 27 Hq 49.

New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Edward when he met the young woman who stole his heart. Although he was living in Detroit, he was in Mahoningtown, Pennsylvania, visiting family when he spotted a young girl who was all dressed up to attend a family wedding. Ed was truly smitten from the first moment he laid eyes on Emily Dipiero. They discovered an instant bond right from the start when they discovered that their roots both traced back to the same town in Italy. Ed was more than happy to make the drive from Detroit to visit his sweetheart, and it wasn’t long before they were head over heels in love. With great hope for the future, Ed and Emily were married on April 15, 1950, at St. Lucy’s Church.

After a memorable honeymoon to New York City where they stayed at the Waldorf Hotel using the money they received for their wedding, the newlyweds settled on the East side of Detroit. Together they welcomed two children into their hearts and home, Jeanette and Vincent. To support his family, Ed owned a car wash while he began his career at Ford Motor Company where he was a hard worker for 30 years. After retiring from Ford in the 1980s, he owned the "Little Red Barn", an ice cream parlor in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Life in the Marsilio family was rarely boring with Ed at the helm. It was something to remember when the entire family took a vacation to Hilton Head, South Carolina, driving there and back. They took three weeks off but only actually spent two weeks in South Carolina as the road trip was an experience of its own taking three days to get there and three days to get back home with Ed having to stop every two hours to “stretch and eat.” Most of the family was all cramped into a minivan together when there would be moments of silence interrupted by hours of yelling. Despite all this turmoil, the whole family couldn’t wait to do it all over again the following year! The entire family would also travel to Ohio to attend the DiPiero family reunion every year and to Pennsylvania to visit more family.

Throughout his life’s journey Edward enriched his days in numerous ways. He lived an active lifestyle for as long as he was able as he loved riding his bike, golfing, and going out to show off his dance moves at a dance club every week during the days when he was still single. An avid sports fan, Ed was loyal to the Detroit sports teams including the Tigers, Lions, Pistons, and Red Wings. Over the years, Ed frequently attended games in person. Around home he enjoyed woodworking projects and could often be found whistling and singing. Ed loved all Italian music and operas, and his favorite place to eat was at the Villa Restaurant in Eastpointe, Michigan. He was also an active member of the Federazione Abruzzese del Michigan (an Italian club in the Detroit area). A true Italian at heart, he enjoyed a fine glass of wine every night with his dinner. Of course being with his loved ones always topped his list, and as his family and friends can attest to the fact that there was nothing like one of Ed’s stories of what life was like in Italy or his time spent in the military.

A devoted husband, loving father, and doting grandfather and great-grandfather, Edward Marsilio was a blessing to those around him. He was never one to be concerned about his possessions, rather, his sights were focused on living fully in the moments he was given. Life will never be the same without Ed here, but his memory will be forever cherished by all who were within his reach.

Edward Marsilio, formerly of Mattawan, died on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Members of his family include; 2 children: Jeanette (Ken) Fillmore and Vince (Tena) Marsilio; 4 grandchildren: Josh (Gara) and Sara Marsilio, James (Cindy) and Paul (Janay) Fillmore; 7 great-grandchildren: Daxton, Victoria, Elizabeth, Mia, Sonny, Izabeta and Ava. Edward was preceded in death by his wife, Emily, in 2011. Visit with Edward’s family and friends on Thursday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson – Paw Paw; 60900 M-40, 657-3870 where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Mattawan. Burial will take place at Mt. Ever Rest North Cemetery followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo or sign his guestbook before coming to the funeral home.