Nellie Demus, 101, passed away Sunday, December 16. Nellie’s great-grandmother, who was born in South America, lived to age 113.

 

Nellie’s parents were Nick Demus, Sr. and Theresa Elizabeth Puccio Demus.

Nellie’s siblings are Michael “Mickey” Demus, Class of 1948, and Jim Demus, Class of 1954, and, all predeceased, Larry Demus; Nick Demus, Jr., Class of 1945; Rose Demus Argiro, Class of 1941, who married Larry Argiro; Joan Demus, Class of 1941; Theresa Demus, in my Class of 1950; and Madalaine Demus Schram, Class of 1941.

Nick, Jim and Mickey all played football for Monongah High.

Nellie was the only Demus sibling without a high school and college education. She dropped out after eighth grade because “We were poor and there were no school buses at that time.”

Rose, who passed away April 4 in Severna Park, Maryland, was married for 69 years to Larry Argiro, one-time owner of Country Club Bakery which invented the pepperoni roll, who passed away March 18, 2017.

There also is a Ramona Rose Demus, Class of 1971, and Nick Demus III, Class of 1973.

Nellie Demus Bailey (her surname at one time) moved from Zionsville, Indiana to join Nick in 1950 to start the Demus Kety Market at 263 Main Street in Worthington. They worked together for 55 years till the market closes in 2009.

Nellie was featured on NBC’s “Today,” show, where Al Roker continued Willard Scott’s tradition of recognizing viewers turning age 100.

Jim McDaniel, whose family members were neighbors to the Demus family for years in Worthington, tipped me off about the passing of that grande dame of Worthington.

Nellie’s obituary:

Nellie Demus, 101, of Worthington passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018.

She was born on April 18, 1917 in Uniontown, daughter of the late Nick Demus, Sr. and Theresa Puccio Demus.

Nellie is survived by her brothers, Michael Demus and James Demus and his wife Erma; and sister-in-law, Merelyn Demus.

She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews who she cherished as her own children.

In addition to her parents, Nellie was preceded in death by her brothers, Larry Demus, Nick Demus, Jr.; and her sisters, Rose Argiro, Joan Demus, Theresa Demus, and Madeline Schram.

Nellie, along with her brother, Nick, started Demus Key Market in 1950 and worked with him for 55 years. She loved gardening and working with flowers.

At the request of he deceased, there will be a private burial and a memorial mass at a later date.