Laura Dewitt
April 23, 1929 — July 2, 2011
Laura Starc DeWitt was born in Trieste, Italy on April 23, 1929 and died on July 2, 2011 at the age of 82. She was the daughter of Angela and Antonio Starc, and lived through difficult times during WWII in Italy. Her siblings included 7 brothers and sisters. Her early years were often beset with extreme hardships and challenges, as she became the eldest sibling in the family at a young age after losing a brother who died in a concentration camp during the war. She would often tell stories about those harsh days and also those of her mother and father who both lived through WWI and WWII in Italy. She often said that no hardship is too difficult to overcome as long as you have the courage to try. After the war, Laura learned English by working as a waitress at a US Army PX restaurant in Trieste to help support her family and practiced her English by reading menus, writing orders, and talking to the soldiers. There she met a charming young soldier from Birds Eye, Indiana, Walter E. DeWitt, and fell in love. They were married in Trieste, Italy and after a year, they were stationed in Ft. Knox, Kentucky where their daughter, Laura Jean was born. Walter was in the US Army and later became a Master Sergeant having led troops in both WWII and Korea and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Walters military career brought them back to Germany for several years, allowing the family to visit relatives in Italy. By 1964, Walter had retired from the Army and they settled in San Antonio. Laura DeWitt was a devoted wife and loving mother and enjoyed cooking her favorite Italian meals for family and friends. She was a talented seamstress and an excellent baker, making the most delicious Italian breads and pastries. She would often share her recipes and make cookies for friends and family. Laura would often say she didnt have an Italian accent, though her speech and mannerisms revealed otherwise. Laura devoted herself to the care of her husband, Walter, for many years after he suffered a debilitating stroke. She always kept in contact with her family in Italy and many friends she found during their travels in the military. She visited Italy twice with her daughter, a time which they both dearly cherished. After her husbands death in 2001, she moved to be with her daughter and son-in-law. There she enjoyed a more leisurely life watching the deer, cooking, going out with many friends and family and tending to the family pets. She is survived by her brother, Luciano Starc and a sister, Lucia Starc Hollenbeck, as well as several nieces and nephews still living in Italy. She is also survived by her daughter, Laura Jean Niland and son-in-law, Andy Niland, other relatives including nieces, Frances Stewart of Nixon, Norma Jendrusch of Victoria, and nephew, Leo Moczygemba of Floresville, Texas, as well as many grand-nieces and grand-nephews in Texas, Indiana and Italy. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Walter E. DeWitt; sister-in-law, Viola Moczygemba; brother-in-law, Charles DeWitt of Indiana; mother and father, Angela and Antonio Starc; sister, Bruna Starc and brothers, Carlo Starc and Sylvano Starc. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Schertz Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 11, 2011 at the Schertz Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at 11:30 AM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
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