Corroll Jean Zonca

Our mom, Corroll Jean (McDermid) Zonca, left this world early on the morning of May 22, 2023 to join our Dad and dance the polka with him into her next life. She was born on December 10, 1931 in Ironwood, MI to Archibald and Victoria (Borek) McDermid. Ironwood had a special place in her heart, as she spent her summers there with her grandparents after her family moved to Detroit when she was 2 years of age. She graduated from Highland Park High School and went to work at Manufacturers National Bank (now Comerica Bank). She worked there for well over 40 years. Our Dad’s cousin worked with our Mom. He saw a picture of Mom on his cousin’s desk one day and asked to meet her. They were set up on a blind date at a dance, and the rest is history. They married on June 25, 1955 and were married for 62 years until he passed from cancer in August of 2017.

Corroll loved to sew and made numerous crafts for family, friends and craft shows. Prior to the dawn of the internet, she painstakingly typed up all her family’s favorite recipes and had them published in a cookbook titled, “Favorite Recipes from Goo-Ma’s House.” She loved visiting casinos and playing the penny slots. She and our Dad would go on gambling junkets with groups. After Dad passed, her daughters took her to the casino, even though they didn’t gamble. She loved to celebrate birthdays and was always the first one to call us on our special day to wish us, ‘Happy Birthday’ and sing her off key rendition of Happy Birthday. She was the queen of the family Christmas celebration and made dozens of Pierogi for our family Christmas Eve dinner by herself when she was well into her 70’s. She loved to travel and, as a result, every one of her children got bit by the travel bug. She planned family vacations every summer, where we would all pile into the family station wagon and drive somewhere east of the Mississippi for two weeks. One of her last vacations was a visit to her beloved Ironwood with her daughters and their husbands.

Corroll cherished her family and the time she spent with them. She supported her children and grandchildren through their various sports, music and extracurricular activities. She was their biggest cheerleader. She was mom to Vicki (Michael) Caine, Randy (Sue), Kathy (Sam) Agrusa, and Rob (Mary). She was Gram/Grandma/Gooma to Laurie Hendrick, Justin (Meaghan) Caine, Nikki (Chris) Lipka, Katie (Ryan) Paternoster, Brian (Amanda) Zonca, Megan Agrusa, Justin Agrusa, Josh (Erin) Agrusa, Aaron (Madison) Agrusa, and Timothy, Michael and Amanda Zonca. She was great-gram/great-grandma to Tyler and Sloane Hendrick, Felicity and Silas Caine, Carly, Nora and Liam Lipka, Andrew and Charlotte Paternoster, Taetum and Easton Zonca, and Quinn Agrusa.

Corroll had a kind heart and a strong will. Dementia stole most of her memory, but in the end she still knew who we were and loved that we were there for her. The family wants to thank Beth, Mary, and Karen from Sparrow Hospice for caring for her during her last few months, days and hours of life. Their compassionate care helped our mom transition from this world and their support for us through the process was invaluable.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Miracle League of Mid-Michigan, 1401 W. Herbison Road, DeWitt, MI 48820.