Idalina Gardi Salvalaggio was born in Ribeirão Claro, Paraná, Brazil, on 22 December 1914, to parents Frederico Gardi and Honorina Gulinelli Gardi.

At some point, she married Fortunato Salvalaggio, and the couple had 4 children: Geni, Emílio, Antônio and Luiz Carlos. The family lived in Ribeirão Claro until the mid-1980s, when they moved to Japira.

At the age of 105, she had eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.