Aletha Josephine Orlea Tramontana

RICHMOND, Ind. – Aletha Josephine Orlea Tramontana, age 87, of Richmond, died Friday, December 4, 2015. Aletha was born on September 27, 1928, at home on her parents’ farm near Rockville, Indiana. She was the daughter of the late Alex and Ollie Bell Lane Orlea. Aletha was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Lucas Tramontana and her brother, Malcolm Orlea. Survivors include her children: Terry Tramontana of California, Craig Tramontana of Oregon, Brad (Peggy) Tramontana of Indiana, and Renata (Martin) Tramontana-Vince of South Carolina; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Aletha was a graduate of Central High School in South Bend, Indiana. While there, she was a member of the Glee Club and was the high school Prom Queen. Aletha had a beautiful voice and after graduation, she learned to play the Hawaiian guitar and sang regularly on Lester Sumrall's Christian Radio Show and in the Volcano Lounge in South Bend. Aletha felt her most important role was that of mother to her four children and comforter to the whole family. She was an outstanding cook. Every day she made delicious meals from scratch. After her youngest child entered high school, she became a teacher’s aide at Test Jr. High School. Later, she and Lucas started an import business, gift shop and bookstore. Her entrepreneurial spirit helped all the businesses flourish. She instilled in her children the value of hard work and doing one's best. Aletha and Lucas traveled with their children throughout North, South, and Central America and Europe, giving them a unique appreciation of the world. Her children were fortunate to grow up watching a genuine love story that never faded between Lucas and her. They truly became one. She was extremely resilient, fighting diabetes, breast cancer and more recently, myasthenia gravis. Even with those diseases, she lived, fought and achieved far beyond what seemed possible. She lived the fullest life possible and leaves a legacy of family, strength, courage, and perseverance. Visitation for Aletha Josephine Orlea Tramontana will be from 4 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 11, 2015, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Richmond, with Father Kevin Morris officiating. Burial will be in St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at www.doanmillsfuneralhome.com.

Aletha Josephine Orlea Tramontana

September 27, 1928 - December 4, 2015