Ida L. Furmanski Nelson

She was born on Aug. 21, 1926, in Crystal Falls to the late Pietro and Eliza (Pedranzen) Schiavo.

She attended the Crystal Falls School and then worked as a waitress and bartender in Milwaukee as well as in numerous Crystal Falls businesses.

She married Raymond Furmanski on May 23, 1945, in Crystal Falls. He preceded her in death in 1982. She married Garfield Nelson in 1985 and he preceded her in death in 2003.

Ida worked at the Forest Park Schools starting in the janitorial department and then worked for 20 years as the head cook. Fresh baking bread, pasty pie casserole, beef stroganoff, and pizzaburgers were just some of her specialties whose amazing aromas filled the building. She headed up many pasty sale fundraisers for the Forest Park band and other groups. Her pasties became well-known throughout the area, which earned her the title, “The Pasty Queen.” She retired in 1988, but continued making pasties to share with many in the community who were sick or alone.

Ida took on the Friday fish fry at the Infield Bar in the mid ’60s and continued to serve delicious meals there for about 10 years.

She had a kind and generous spirit. Besides giving of her time and kitchen expertise for fundraising and giving away hundreds of pasties, many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners found various friends and acquaintances around the table so they wouldn’t have to be alone on a holiday. Her giving spirit was recognized in 1977, when she was honored as Woman of the Year.

Ida’s laugh became well-known as there was no mistaking it. She was once kicked out of the movie theater because her laugh was disturbing the other patrons. She loved people and loved to make them laugh as well as to laugh with them.

She is survived by her sons, Raymond (Patsy) Furmanski of Daggett and Daune (Terri) Furmanski of Eden Prairie, Minn.; daughter, Patricia Westcott of Crystal Falls; grandchildren, Mike Furmanski, Greg (Cori) Furmanski, Tracie Westcott, Jenna Furmanski, Hannah (Chris McCarthy) Furmanski, Lauren Furmanski, Kayla Furmanski, and Ellie (Ross) Perigo; six great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Olga Cocco of Powers and Veronica Malecha of Dallas; and in addition, Garfield’s children, Karen (Jimmy) Maki, Kay (John) Flowers, Carol (Bruce) Tusa, all of Amasa, and Mary Syrjala of Watton, Mich.; along with several of their grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husbands, she was preceded in death by her son, Steven Furmanski; son-in-law, Robert Westcott; her infant twin sisters; her 10-year-old brother, Peter 1st; sisters, Angeline Mindok, Carmen Korpi, and Anita Smith; brothers, John, Carmello, Albino, Caesar, Clarence, Lawrence, and Peter 2nd; Garfield’s granddaughter, Sally Bandola; and his son-in-law, Michael Syrjala.

Visitation will be from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home in Crystal Falls. Prayers will be recited at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls, with Rev. Fr. Daniel Dapaah officiating. Burial will be in the spring in Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Ida’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Crystal Falls, to honor Ida’s legacy of life.