Iona K. Desautels

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Iona K. Desautels, age 96, of Orlando, FL. She passed peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, November 21st, 2024.

Iona was born on February 11, 1928, in Medford, WI, daughter to her late parents, Sylvester Joseph and Iona Helen (Widman) Hiss. 

Iona was one of 14 children and grew up in the Great Depression. Her family was rich with love; they always worked together to find a solution and pulled together as a family. 

Iona had one superpower - Love!  Iona loved everyone and she could melt your heart with just one smile. 

She thoroughly enjoyed being a cast member and dressing in costume for her position on Main Street at Walt Disney World’s clock shop. 

Her true passion in life was raising her five children, and loving her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. She loved being a part of everyone’s life. 

Iona is survived by her three sons, Gregory Anthony Massing of Orlando, Garold “Gary” L. Massing of Orlando, and Guy Douglas Massing and his wife, Cheryl, of Elkhart, IN; two daughters, Gwen M. Stevenson and her husband, Richard, of Merritt Island, and Gail A Danos, of Kansas City, KS; three sisters, Sylvia Roehm of St Louis, MO, Peggy McNeish of East Hampton, MA, and Patty Hebior of Waukegan, IL; two brothers James Hiss, of Michigan City, IN and John Hiss of Davenport, FL; six grandchildren, Katie Vore, Owen Massing, Nikki Coon, Donald “Zac” Danos, Abby Danos and Tyler Massing; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan Gerichten, Bryce Herrman, Wyatt Herrman, Brylynn Coon, and Kinley Coon. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester Joseph and Iona Helen (Widman) Hiss; her first husband, Edward A Massing; her second husband, C. Duane Weidner; her third husband, Gaston R Desautels; six sisters, Virginia Root, Doris Albright, Jeanette Hammes, Julia Hiss, Rita Mansfield, and Rose Hammel; and two brothers, Robert Hiss, and Richard Hiss.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 1:00 pm at Church of Our Saviour Catholic Church, 5301 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931.

Private inurnment will take place later at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, FL.

To share your memories of Iona or leave a special message of condolence for her family, please visit and sign the guestbook below.