Adelaide Virginia Ciavarella

ADELAIDE VIRGINIA CIAVARELLA, 91, Bismarck, North Dakota, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2016, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck.
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She was born February 1, 1924, the second of seven children, the daughter of Earl and Irene Schauss. She had one older brother Ken and five younger sisters Carol, Arlene, Clara, Dorothy and Janice. Ken, Arlene, Clara and Dorothy preceded her in death. Adelaide spent her young life on the family farm where she learned to work at a very young age. Because she was the oldest daughter with only one brother, she learned to work hard doing household chores, tending children, cooking and cleaning; she even moved outhouses and drove tractors.

Adelaide moved into the big city, Mandan, when she was 16 years old and went to high school, earning her room and board by working as a housekeeper and cook in a private home. When she was 17 she met and fell in love with her husband-to-be, Herman Ciavarella, a young bookkeeper and musician. They met at a dance and were inseparable partners from that dance until Herman died in May of 2001. Their lives were filled with hard work in traditionally styled roles, family and music. Herman and Adelaide had six children, Norman, Mava, Faye, Patricia, Corliss, and Leslie. Patricia died in 1957. Adelaide shared Herman's love of music and gardening and they spent many hours together tending huge gardensweeding and reaping. They shared their bounty freely with friends and family and Adelaide froze vegetables and filled two freezers every year, and also canned cupboards full of vegetables.

Adelaide loved working with her hands and as she got older and her children left home, she had more time to enjoy many creative craftscrocheting, doll making, ceramics, macram, and embroidery. Her house was filled with things that she had made and she was so prolific that anyone who wanted something she made had a lot to choose from.

As her family grew from six children, adding 15 grandchildren; Natalie, Michael, Brian, Todd, Jalena, Andrea, Joanna, Eric, Heath, Roshay, Chelsy, Devon, Trent, Travis, and Tabatha. Adelaide enjoyed spending time with her family and watching them change and grow. Her grandchildren have many memories of their nontraditional grandmother wrestling with them, tickling them into submission, and verbally challenging them. Adelaide lived to welcome 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren into the world.

Adelaide was a Christian, who accepted Christ as her Savior as a young mother, and lived her life honoring God. She now resides for eternity In her new beautiful home where there are no more tears, no more pain, only unending joy. Praise God for his gift of eternal life bought by the blood of his son Jesus.