Delma Iacocca Kelechava, of Bethlehem, PA passed away peacefully in her home Friday August 19, 2022.
Del was born to Nicola and Antonietta Perrotta Iacocca, first generation immigrants from Italy. When she was 28 she married Lawrence Kelechava with whom she shared 36 wonderful years of marriage until he passed in 1986. Many of her happiest memories throughout her life were spent with her younger brother Lido "Lee" Iacocca who predeceased her in 2019 and was in her own words, "The light of my life".
Del was a proud 1940 graduate of Allentown High School and spent ten years working for the American Optical Company. Del and Larry raised their family in the Midway Manor Community in Allentown, which was developed by her father.
In addition to preparing three meals a day and making sure the kids did their homework and got to school on time, Del also worked for her father's real estate development company and restaurant ventures, including the Four Chefs Restaurant on Union Boulevard in Allentown. She and her husband owned and operated the Bethlehem Ford dealership from the 60's to the 80's.
A dance instructor when she was a young girl, Del was able to float effortlessly across the dance floor and continued to enjoy ballroom dancing throughout her life. She was a voracious reader and was well versed in the history of the Lehigh Valley. Her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. She traveled extensively, and her most treasured moments were spent in Tuscany, Italy and on Nantucket Island. She also loved time spent in New York City, especially when she could catch the latest Broadway play.
Her Italian ancestry resulted in food being a lifelong passion; particularly fresh lobster, clams, oysters and shrimp. She was particularly happy when preparing her mother's favorite Italian recipes from San Marco dei Cavoti for her children, grandchildren, and close friends.
Del was a longtime member of Tuesday Club of Bethlehem and served as President for two years. She volunteered for the Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island Foundation of New York for the original restoration efforts and the Iacocca Institute's Global Village which she enjoyed immensely.
A viewing will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St. Bethlehem PA 18018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Memorial Park.
Del was born to Nicola and Antonietta Perrotta Iacocca, first generation immigrants from Italy. When she was 28 she married Lawrence Kelechava with whom she shared 36 wonderful years of marriage until he passed in 1986. Many of her happiest memories throughout her life were spent with her younger brother Lido "Lee" Iacocca who predeceased her in 2019 and was in her own words, "The light of my life".
Del was a proud 1940 graduate of Allentown High School and spent ten years working for the American Optical Company. Del and Larry raised their family in the Midway Manor Community in Allentown, which was developed by her father.
In addition to preparing three meals a day and making sure the kids did their homework and got to school on time, Del also worked for her father's real estate development company and restaurant ventures, including the Four Chefs Restaurant on Union Boulevard in Allentown. She and her husband owned and operated the Bethlehem Ford dealership from the 60's to the 80's.
A dance instructor when she was a young girl, Del was able to float effortlessly across the dance floor and continued to enjoy ballroom dancing throughout her life. She was a voracious reader and was well versed in the history of the Lehigh Valley. Her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. She traveled extensively, and her most treasured moments were spent in Tuscany, Italy and on Nantucket Island. She also loved time spent in New York City, especially when she could catch the latest Broadway play.
Her Italian ancestry resulted in food being a lifelong passion; particularly fresh lobster, clams, oysters and shrimp. She was particularly happy when preparing her mother's favorite Italian recipes from San Marco dei Cavoti for her children, grandchildren, and close friends.
Del was a longtime member of Tuesday Club of Bethlehem and served as President for two years. She volunteered for the Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island Foundation of New York for the original restoration efforts and the Iacocca Institute's Global Village which she enjoyed immensely.
A viewing will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St. Bethlehem PA 18018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Memorial Park.
Delma Iacocca Kelechava, of Bethlehem, PA passed away peacefully in her home Friday August 19, 2022.
Del was born to Nicola and Antonietta Perrotta Iacocca, first generation immigrants from Italy. When she was 28 she married Lawrence Kelechava with whom she shared 36 wonderful years of marriage until he passed in 1986. Many of her happiest memories throughout her life were spent with her younger brother Lido "Lee" Iacocca who predeceased her in 2019 and was in her own words, "The light of my life".
Del was a proud 1940 graduate of Allentown High School and spent ten years working for the American Optical Company. Del and Larry raised their family in the Midway Manor Community in Allentown, which was developed by her father.
In addition to preparing three meals a day and making sure the kids did their homework and got to school on time, Del also worked for her father's real estate development company and restaurant ventures, including the Four Chefs Restaurant on Union Boulevard in Allentown. She and her husband owned and operated the Bethlehem Ford dealership from the 60's to the 80's.
A dance instructor when she was a young girl, Del was able to float effortlessly across the dance floor and continued to enjoy ballroom dancing throughout her life. She was a voracious reader and was well versed in the history of the Lehigh Valley. Her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. She traveled extensively, and her most treasured moments were spent in Tuscany, Italy and on Nantucket Island. She also loved time spent in New York City, especially when she could catch the latest Broadway play.
Her Italian ancestry resulted in food being a lifelong passion; particularly fresh lobster, clams, oysters and shrimp. She was particularly happy when preparing her mother's favorite Italian recipes from San Marco dei Cavoti for her children, grandchildren, and close friends.
Del was a longtime member of Tuesday Club of Bethlehem and served as President for two years. She volunteered for the Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island Foundation of New York for the original restoration efforts and the Iacocca Institute's Global Village which she enjoyed immensely.
A viewing will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St. Bethlehem PA 18018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Memorial Park.
Del was born to Nicola and Antonietta Perrotta Iacocca, first generation immigrants from Italy. When she was 28 she married Lawrence Kelechava with whom she shared 36 wonderful years of marriage until he passed in 1986. Many of her happiest memories throughout her life were spent with her younger brother Lido "Lee" Iacocca who predeceased her in 2019 and was in her own words, "The light of my life".
Del was a proud 1940 graduate of Allentown High School and spent ten years working for the American Optical Company. Del and Larry raised their family in the Midway Manor Community in Allentown, which was developed by her father.
In addition to preparing three meals a day and making sure the kids did their homework and got to school on time, Del also worked for her father's real estate development company and restaurant ventures, including the Four Chefs Restaurant on Union Boulevard in Allentown. She and her husband owned and operated the Bethlehem Ford dealership from the 60's to the 80's.
A dance instructor when she was a young girl, Del was able to float effortlessly across the dance floor and continued to enjoy ballroom dancing throughout her life. She was a voracious reader and was well versed in the history of the Lehigh Valley. Her favorite movie was Gone with the Wind. She traveled extensively, and her most treasured moments were spent in Tuscany, Italy and on Nantucket Island. She also loved time spent in New York City, especially when she could catch the latest Broadway play.
Her Italian ancestry resulted in food being a lifelong passion; particularly fresh lobster, clams, oysters and shrimp. She was particularly happy when preparing her mother's favorite Italian recipes from San Marco dei Cavoti for her children, grandchildren, and close friends.
Del was a longtime member of Tuesday Club of Bethlehem and served as President for two years. She volunteered for the Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island Foundation of New York for the original restoration efforts and the Iacocca Institute's Global Village which she enjoyed immensely.
A viewing will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cantelmi Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St. Bethlehem PA 18018. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem where the family will receive relatives and friends from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Memorial Park.
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