The Cristoforo Colombo Lodge of the Sons and Daughters of Italy is celebrating 100 years in Omaha with a centennial party Sunday afternoon. Sarah Ruma, president of Lodge #1419, said her family’s ties to the hall span generations. “For me, it goes all the way back to my grandparents, my nannu and nanna, and their involvement, as well as my parents, as well as my brother, as well as now me,” Ruma said.
Ruma was sworn in as a member in 2005. She later became the first woman to lead the lodge. A fire destroyed much of the historic hall on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. The hall stayed closed for three years.“The day of that fire was Friday the 13th, January 13th, 2017. And a group of us came to see it because it was very, very hard to believe,” Ruma said.
