Ida V. DiBurro

Ida Viola (Vallante) DiBurro of Methuen, age 93, passed away Tuesday March 10, 2026 at Cedar View Healthcare Center with her son by her side, after a year of declining health. She will be sadly missed by those who knew her well and those who knew her for only a short time.

Her life began on February 22, 1933, the youngest of seven children born to the late Pasquale and Mariagrazia (Palmieri) Vallante, both of whom emigrated to the United States from Italy. The family lived on Chestnut Street in Lawrence. As a young girl, she adored her five older brothers and said that they and her sister Florence always gave her what she wanted because she was the little sister in the family. If she got out of line however, she recalled it was her brother Louie that would set her straight but then would immediately make her happy again by playing a few tunes for her with his harmonica. One of her favorite surprises was a walk to the corner store with her brother Ernie where he would always treat her to a cone of ice cream.

Her best friend as a child was Ann Longo who lived directly across the street from her and they remained acquainted throughout their lives.

Ida was the consummate nurturing woman who devoted her life to her family and treasured time spent with them above all else. She stayed at home raising her two sons while her husband Al worked as a firefighter for the Lawrence Fire Department. With both her young boys enrolled as students at the former Holy Trinity School in Lawrence, she began to participate in the school's Mother's Guild and became involved in school affairs. She was always happy to assist the Franciscan Sisters who taught there by taking them shopping for items needed at the school or their convent. Ida was given the opportunity to teach kindergarten at Holy Trinity and with that, began her work as what she called "a teacher, babysitter, and second mother." At the end of each school year, with the assistance of other staff members, she would coordinate a delightful graduation ceremony for her students.

She was typically a very kind and polite woman but was not afraid to give you her strong opinion on exactly what she thought about a particular matter or situation or….what she thought about You!! She could also be a gentle and loving person. Shortly after moving to her new home in Methuen in 1979, a stray kitten from the back woods began hanging around her property. Ida and her husband Al took the cat in, cared for it and gave it a warm comfortable place to live. She named the cat Poppy and it was her close companion for 16 years.

To her granddaughters Kristin and Kelly she was "Mema" and her home was a happy place for them filled with fun and learning. She was overjoyed with the birth of her great grandson Nolan in June 2024 and from that time on, with every conversation she had with her son, she would always ask "where is Nolan today…what's Nolan up to now".

She was fond of Early American furniture and her home decor reflected that. Her home was always decorated for the holidays, especially Christmas, with lights, flowers and an arrangement of the many porcelain dolls and figurines she enjoyed collecting. An excellent cook, holiday meals at her home were elaborate, with all the trimmings. For special occasions, if not having a family meal at her home, she enjoyed dining at the Phoenician Restaurant.

As she slowed down in her later years she liked shopping at the Dollar Tree store, watching religious programs and daily mass on TV as well as old game shows on the Buzzer Channel. She remained active on her computer until her final months, solving puzzles, checking her social media, making an occasional Facebook comment, watching YouTube videos, searching Google for topics that interested her and listening to music, especially Stjepan Hauser playing the cello.

Besides her parents, she joins in Glory her husband Albert DiBurro with whom she shared 61 years of marriage until his passing in 2016, her brothers and their wives, Eugene and Pasquelina, Guido and Louise, Ernest and Elenora, Louis and Louise, Armand and Janet, her sister Florence and husband Peter Laudani as well as her Godparents, Joseph and Viola Cardone. Finally, she rejoins her son Gerald, who passed away in 1973 at the age of 12 and whom she has waited so terribly long to see again.

She is survived by her son Bob DiBurro and his wife Sandy of Methuen, her granddaughters Kelly DiBurro of Tewksbury, Kristin and her husband Ryan Johnson of Methuen, her great grandson Nolan Johnson and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. In addition, Ida leaves behind all the former students who attended her kindergarten classes at Holy Trinity School in Lawrence during her many years there as a teacher. She held a special place in her heart for all of them and from year to year would listen with interest, amusement and sometimes compassion as they described the experiences of their young lives to her with the candor and innocence that could only come from a child. After her retirement, she could still recount with a laugh or a sigh some of their classroom antics and was always happy to run across or hear from a former student.

Many thanks to the staff at Cedar View Healthcare Center who were attentive to Ida and watched over her in her final months. The staff members that interacted with her were kind, pleasant and compassionate. Thank You as well to Ida's wonderful and very helpful home assistant, Lisa from Multi Cultural Home Care and to Dr. Jean Tabit who provided Ida with medical care and guidance during the later years of her life.

Memorial contributions in Ida's name can be made to St Jude's Hospital to help fund research and treatment for childhood cancer. https://www.stjude.org/

Visiting Hours will be held on Monday, March 16, 2026 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated the following morning, Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 10:00 am at Holy Rosary Shrine, 28 Union Street, Lawrence. Burial to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery.