Akemi C. Iannozzi

Our beloved Mom lived to a full 80 years of life.  She spent the last few months fighting pneumonia; medication helped however she was weak.  While in rehab, her body had had enough, and she passed peacefully in her sleep on August 11,2023.   

She was born in Yamagata, Japan on March 21^st, 1943.  She was a foster child and worked to provide for herself early in life.   She was a survivor.  Mom attended school to the 8^th grade and throughout her life learned and adapted quick.  In February of 1968, she met and married William M. Iannozzi a marine fighting the Vietnam War.  The two fell in love and Mom came to the United States to start a life together.   She wasn’t alone in her travels; she was 7 months pregnant at the time.  After arriving on the doorstep of her in laws her new life began.  She gave birth to two daughters (Geraldine and Michell).   She learned to speak and write English and navigated in a strange new place.  Her perseverance and bravery are unmeasurable. As her marriage began to struggle; she worked 3 jobs to provide for her family.  She cleaned houses, worked in a fiberglass factory, dry cleaners, bartended and was a self-taught seamstress. Supported by incredible friends, family, and church she continued.  She started working at Stroehmann Bread Bakery as a line worker and was promoted to Production Manager.  She was loved and respected and retired after 29 years.  In her retirement, she travelled from Indiana to Pennsylvania to stay with each of her daughters and son in laws.  She was living her best life finally.  

She loved to read James Patterson novels, crochet, play word search, solitaire and puzzles most of all she loved playing with her fur “grand babies” Cookie, Cooper, and Paulie.  She never stopped giving of her time and support.   Mom was a second Mom to many and she never let anyone go in need.  She was kind, extremely generous and loving.  She lit up a room with her wit and spunk.  She was funny and sharp with the come backs.  She was an incredible mother and friend.  

She is survived by her daughters, Geraldine (Powell) and Michell (Ragusa), son in laws

Warren Powell and Chalie Ragusa.  Her legacy and life will live on through the lives of too many to mention.  

Her heart was big and her spirit a force of nature; she will be greatly missed. We will love her forever in our hearts.