Catherine Victoria Cioni Broccardo

Catherine Victoria Cioni Broccardo, 94, a longtime resident of Springfield, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 25, 2011 at Memorial Medical Center.
She was 1st generation born in America in Lutie, Oklahoma on January 26, 1917 the daughter of Aurelio and Maria Anna Bilesio Cioni. She married Alfredo Broccardo on June 24, 1935 in Taylorville, IL. They remained by each others side for 73 years until his death on March 13, 2008.
She has now joined in heaven Alfredo, who she had extremely missed for 3 years, a daughter Mary Ann Broccardo Peterman, her parents and 2 brothers, Dante Cioni and John Cioni.
She was, above all, a loving Mother and homemaker. She was co-owner with her husband in the Broccardo Brothers Bottling Company (Ves Cola, Whistle, Squirt, Hires Root Beer, Vernors & 3 V Cola Sodas) for more than 40 years. During WWII, she solely managed and ran the family business until her husband returned from the war. Right after the war when the Veterans were returning home she would cook meals and feed the hungry. She and her husband would buy food for the hungry families on the south side of Springfield in their neighborhood until the men returned to work.
When she moved to Springfield from Kincaid in 1937, she was a member of St. Barbara’s Catholic Church until that parish was divided. She had been a member and supporter of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, now known as St. Katharine Drexel for over 69 years. She was a member of the St. Katharine Drexel (Sacred Heart) Parish-Altar Society & the Legion of Mary.
She is survived by 4 children, who love her dearly, Marcel (Terri) of Springfield, Juliann (Jerry) Hughes of Chatham, Phillip and Raymond of Springfield, 27 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Visitation: 4-7 pm Monday, March 28, 2011 at Staab Funeral Home with a rosary service at 6:30 pm.
Funeral Mass: 10:30 am Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Sacred Heart Church with Reverend Stephen Thompson officiating.
Interment will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Katharine Drexel Parish.