Vera May Zanardelli spent most of her adult life counting people. An interviewer for the U.S. Census Bureau, Zanardelli tallied the citizens of Detroit for more than 30 years. The Pennsylvania native joined the Bureau in 1969 and became its regional director in 1977.
After retiring in 1990, Zanardelli volunteered at local libraries, read books to patients at the Henry Ford Retirement Village in Dearborn, Mich., and planned reunions for World War II veterans. She was also the executive vice president of the 11th Armored Division Association.
Zanardelli died on Feb. 3 of complications from surgery. She was 80.