Iva Speranza

Iva Speranza, 91, of Auburn, passed away on March 6, 2017 at Sunrise Manor in Virden. 

She was born on June 30, 1925 in Vinton, VA, the daughter of Earl and Effie (Woodford) Leftwich. 

Iva graduated from the Lewis-Gale School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1946.  She married Vincent J. Speranza of Staten Island, N.Y. in 1948.  They lived on Staten Island, in Springfield, IL, Dunnellon, FL, and settled in Auburn in 2001.  They also summered at Lake Seymour in Vermont for 48 years.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Leftwich and her daughter, Susan Erwin Pietrangelo.

Iva was a devoted wife and mother who also enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading and entertaining guests in her home.  She had a special fondness for all babies and made her life’s work to find and create beauty and peace in the world for all who knew her.

Surviving are her husband, Vincent; her son, Vince (wife Tracy) Speranza of Anderson, CA; her daughter, Katharine (husband Jim) Wilson of Auburn, 7 grandchildren Heather Erwin of Dawson, Marco Pietrangelo of Yonkers, NY, Ella Broche, Ericka Hine, Emilie Yeager-Shank, Eva Ferry all of Springfield, and William Sturgeon of Cape Girardeau, MO; step grandchildren Cayce Douglas of Anderson, CA, and James Wilson of Golden, CO; 5 great-grandchildren; 5 step great-grandsons; her sister, Elsie (husband Aubrey) Vaughan of Vinton, VA along with 3 nieces, 2 nephews, 2 great nieces, 1 great nephew.

Cremation rites were accorded.

Graveside services will be Friday, March 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Auburn Cemetery with Rev. Jonathon Totty officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the staff of Sunrise Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.