Who is Ida Mancuso from History: A Novel and what is their importance?

Ida initially carries deep shame and guilt over the conception of her youngest son, Guiseppe (Useppe), who is the result of rape by a German soldier. She becomes old before her time. Her body suffers from malnourishment, her focus being on Useppe's survival and well-being. As a child, she has a light case of epilepsy, which has shown up starkly in Useppe. She was a somewhat gifted child, but now a middle-aged widow in the middle of a world war, she withdraws and closes herself off to anything but the most cursory interactions with others. When their building is bombed out, Ida lives with a group of people in shelter housing, and later takes up residence with others to get back on her feet.