Accardi, Ida M. (Marletta) of Somerville formerly of Boston's West End, January 26, 2026.
Ida grew up in Boston’s West End and lived upstairs from her grandparent’s bakery – Nicolosi’s Bakery. She graduated from Girls High in Roxbury with the Class of 1956. That same year she met her eventual husband Anthony……whom she affectionately always called Tony. She worked for MIT as a bookkeeper for a short time. In 1958 her family, along with hundreds of other families were evicted from the West End as Urban Renewal dictated that the West End be razed and replaced with luxury apartment buildings. Ida’s family settled in Somerville, though Ida would not be there for long as her and Tony would marry in May of 1959 and take up residence in Roxbury – where Tony grew up.
In three years, Ida gave birth to the first of her three boys – Anthony Jr. Two years later Michael came along and at the same time Ida’s parents purchased a house in the Winter Hill section of Somerville for the sole purpose of reuniting Ida with her parents and sister Mariann. Ida, Tony and their two boys relocated to the second floor of Ida’s parents’ house and never left. Three years later they welcomed her third son Christopher.
In 1978 she started a position as a bookkeeper with Airline Freight Services (ADCI) in East Boston – a position that she would stay at for 34 years – until she retired. The owners, The Donati and Sullivan families lived just doors away on Winter Hill and over the years, their relationship as neighbors, became more like family.
Ida was the proverbial “nice little Italian” girl. She was extremely family oriented and very proud of her Sicilian heritage – even visiting Sicily twice in her life. The first time with her best friend, the late Grace Russo and the 2nd time with her husband Tony as part of their 25th wedding anniversary. Anyone who met and got to know Ida could easily say she was the nicest person in the world. Always putting herself last, always being a good listener and never speaking badly of anyone. Her and Tony brought up their three boys to be as they were – kind, respectful, liked by others and of course – to be gentlemen. Though both Ida and Tony were proud of their Sicilian heritage, they brought up their boys to be American but taught them and endeared them to uphold many of the Sicilian traditions.
Ida was very proud of growing up in the West End. She spoke fondly of all the good times she had there and the wonderful people she grew up with. She attended the many West End reunions and frequently” bumped” into former West Enders while shopping. These meetings usually led to somewhat long conversations and old West End stories.
Ida’s greatest pleasure was, of course, family. Her ultimate dream was to start a family and become a mother. She was the perfect mother, always making sure there was plenty of food on the table and putting love into everything she cooked. She loved to cook and some of her famous dishes were her beef stew with dumplings, her Sicilian pizza, her pizzelles and her hand maid “crepe” style Manicotti’s. Ida loved being part of the Accardi family and loved all her in-laws. She was blessed with three adoring daughter in-laws – Debbie, Dina and Maria, whom she considered the daughters she never had, yet always wanted.
Though known as an easy-going person, when the time came to show her children discipline, you would see another side of Ida, which was not frequently shown. This other side, of course, was never exposed to her grandchildren – they had much more lenient rules.
Beloved wife for 66 years of Anthony J. Accardi. Daughter of the late Joseph and Frances (Gulino) Marletta. Devoted mother of Anthony J. Accardi, Jr. and his wife Maria of Wilmington, Michael Accardi and his wife Debbie of Melrose, Christopher Accardi and his wife Dina of Burlington. Loving Nonnie to Candice, Tendo, Alexandra, Michael, Sarah, Joseph, Gina, and Salvatore. Loving great grandmother (also Nonnie) to Grayson, Lincoln, and Dylan. Sister of the late Joanne Marcos, Mariann Carnazzo, and Joseph Marletta. Further survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Dear lifelong friend of the late Grace Russo.
A funeral service will be conducted in the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., MEDFORD, Saturday, January 31st, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with the family prior to the service from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Services will conclude with burial at St. Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Ida’s memory to Care Dimensions, Suite B-102, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923 or at www.caredimensions.org.