Ilda Ross, age 95, of Eau Claire, passed away on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at the home of her daughter, while under the care of Mayo Clinic Hospice. She was born on October 8, 1916, in Spring Valley, Illinois, to Carlo and Christina Pomatto, both of whom had come to the United States from Italy. As a young woman Ilda moved to Chicago to work and met Milton Ross, whom she married in 1938. They lived in a number of cities in the midwest with their two oldest sons before settling in Oakbrook, Illinois, where they raised two more children, a daughter and third son. They lived in Oakbrook until they retired, and then moved to Kewanee, Illinois, to be near one of Ilda's sisters and her brother. Milton died in 1985, and in 1994 Ilda moved to Eau Claire to be near her daughter and her family. Ilda worked various part-time jobs when her children were growing up, and later became a cashier at Jewel Foods, where she worked until she retired. Ilda was devoted to her family, including her extended family of a brother, three sisters, numerous nieces and nephews, and later, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Ilda was a spirited person with a strong personality. She loved dancing and music, listening to everything from Italian opera to big band music and blues. In her later years she took up swimming and swam 40 laps three times weekly for more than 20 years. When she moved to Eau Claire she enjoyed visiting the Senior Center where she made friends easily. She is survived by her sons, Ronald Ross and Kenneth Ross (Marion Scholl Ross); her daughter, Nancy Wesenberg (Mark Wesenberg); her seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren; and one sister, Alma Weberling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton Ross; her son, Jerry Alan Ross; two sisters, Yolanda Brooks Schutz and Gena Flannery; and two brothers, Dahlio Pomatto (died in infancy) and Bruno Pomatto. Ilda's family would like to express their gratitude to Mauricea Ziehr, R.N. of Mayo Hospice, and to the other wonderful caregivers who helped her daughter care for her over the past five years: Lori Quint, Carey Hoeft, Sandy Miller and Karrie Johnson. Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 8, 2012, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. with Rev. Virginia Wolf officiating. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. All memorials will be donated to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation.

Service Information

Visitation

Monday, October 8 2012 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703

Funeral Service

Monday, October 8 2012 11:00 AM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Services 814 First Avenue Eau Claire WI 54703