GRASSI, AIDA MARIE

GRASSI, AIDA MARIE Aida Marie Grassi, 92, of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, passed away on Saturday July 29th, 2023. Aida was born on April 15, 1931 to Charles and Rose Del Cupolo in South Philadelphia and then years later, in 1947, her family moved to West Philadelphia in the Overbrook neighborhood. During those early decades her father was a butcher and had several shops, the last being Charles Meat Market at 9th and Passyunk Avenue, just one block from the famous Pat's Steaks and throughout the 1930's and 1940's Pat's bought the meat for their popular steak sandwiches from his shop. Aida attended Southern High School For Girls and during her teenage years she tutored many other students in the Italian language, which she not only spoke beautifully, but wrote in fluently. She received her diploma in 1949 and soon after that the Del Cupolo family permanently relocated to Wildwood Crest. In 1951 Aida worked as a photo artist for the long gone Independent Record Newspaper located in Wildwood and while on assignment downtown at WCMC Radio Station she met her first husband, John Olson, with whom she had three children – Sharon, Roseanne and Charles. The marriage ended in divorce in 1958. In her early years on the island she worked at The Manor Supper Club in North Wildwood as a cocktail waitress and she was also one of the first grocery cashiers at the Acme Market on Park Blvd. in Wildwood. Later, in 1963, after a long courtship, she married her beloved husband Ralph Grassi (Aida always felt their union was serendipitous for Ralph had lived the same childhood experiences as she; he too was born in South Philadelphia, then moved to Overbook, only for his family to also relocate to Wildwood Crest… unbelievable that they were always just blocks away from each other). In 1964 they welcomed their son, Ralph Jr., into their now complete family of six! The happy couple was among the first families to build a home in 1964 on the south end of the island in beautiful Wildwood Crest and it was there that they lovingly raised their children and lived for over 55 years. Throughout the years there were two places you could always find Aida – in the kitchen pouring her love for her family into everything she cooked or baked… or by her husband's side, helping him with some of his business ventures; among them, The Eugene & The Lindy Apartments on Ocean Ave. in Wildwood or Design Craft Flooring just offshore in Rio Grande. Her family will forever cherish their memories of her and will miss her dearly. Aida was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Rose Del Cupolo, her angel of a daughter, Roseanne, and her devoted husband Ralph whom she loved dearly. She is survived by her devoted sons, Charles John Olson and Ralph Grassi Jr. and his wife Donna, daughter Sharon Sherwood and her husband Barry, and her sisters, Lenora Martino and Tina Turner. The funeral will be a private ceremony with only close family members present.