SMYRNA - Iolanda Morinello Zikowitz of Smyrna died peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2019 at home where she had resided since September 1995. She was born on 27 April 1931 to the late Giovanni and Gertrude Morinello of Italy.
Iolanda was born and raised in Tripoli, Libya. During World War II, all Italian children in Tripoli were transported to Italy for safekeeping under the supervision of school personnel. Iolanda resided at the school for several years during which time military troops set up their headquarters in close proximity to her school. After the war, Iolanda returned to Tripoli to be reunited with her parents. She started working in the beauty shop on Wheelus Air Force Base, where she eventually met and married her husband, Airman First Class Richard S. Zikowitz. They moved to the United States in 1954 and Iolanda became a U.S. Citizen. Upon Richard's military retirement she taught at Venus Beauty School in Sharon Hill, PA for many years, then became the manager at the newly built JC Penney Salon at the Granite Run Mall.
Iolanda and Richard were married for 66 years. During that time, they lived in various places based on where Richard was stationed, including Japan, Turkey, and Italy. After Richard retired from the Air Force, he and Iolanda resided in the Philadelphia area and then moved to Florida. In 1995, they relocated back north to Smyrna, DE to be closer to family. At that time, Iolanda set up her very own, "Iolanda's Beauty Shop".
Iolanda is survived by her loving husband, Richard S. Zikowitz; daughter, Linda A. Lavender and her husband Joseph Spina; son, Richard A. Zikowitz; granddaughters, Londa A. Antoian and her husband Kyle, Layla A. Sassone and her husband Greg, Lori A. Lavender, Catherine Zikowitz; grandson, Christopher Zikowitz and his wife Kristy; and six great-grandchildren.
A mass for Iolanda will be held at St. Polycarp Church, 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, Delaware 19977 later in the summer. A private interment will be held at the Veterans Cemetery in Bear.