Mary Calderone's Obituary
Mary (Ilacqua) Calderone passed away March 19, 2025. She was born on January 8, 1930 in East Harlem, which then was predominantly an Italian immigrant community. She was baptized at Saint Lucy’s church and lived with her parents, Franco Ilacqua and Maria Raimondo in New York until 1933 when they moved back to Barcelona Sicily. Santo Calderone, Mary’s soon to be husband met her as he was visiting his godparents who happened to live next door. It was May 1946. He was 26 and had just returned from serving with the American army in Australia. She was 16. They married on August 25 in San Antonio Church in San Antonio and sailed to New York In January 1947, settling at first in the Bronx. They went back to San Antonio renewed their vows for their 25th anniversary in 1971. For the first few years, she lived in the city, moving to Farmingdale in the early 50s, Barcellona, Sicily in 1960, back to Farmingdale in 1964 until 1986 when they retired to Cape Coral, Florida. Santo died in 2004 and she continued to live with her son Chris until recently.
Mary exhibited many admirable attributes: Her courage, her fortitude, her strong will, her love for gardening and family, her sense of justice, her affability and her sense of style. She was a woman of tremendous faith and had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and a day did not go by that she did not say the rosary. But she was also an incredibly intelligent women who right from day one understood clearly the dangers and pain of the present situation. Despite the fact she only went to school in Sicily up to fifth grade, she taught herself to read and write English and till these last few weeks, spent her time reading the newspaper and novels as well as watching the news. If she had been born in another era, she could have been a college professor. If she were a canonized saint, she would have a rosary in one hand and a newspaper in the other. Although if you ask her grandchildren, they will remember her for her lentil dishes, pot roast and butter cookies.
Mary is preceded in passing by her beloved husband of 58 years Santo, her parents, and sister Vincenzina.
Mary leaves her loving memory with her cherished survivors, her four children (Louis, Frank, John and Christopher), 6 grandchildren (Jacqueline, Christine, Lauren, Diana, Danielle and Luke), daughter-in-laws Linda and Lorraine and four great grandchildren, Lily Marie (7) and Olivia Marie (8) Peter (5) and Joseph (3).
Mary’s family has entrusted Fort Myers Memorial Gardens with the tender care of her final arrangements. There will be a visitation on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 4PM-7PM. Mary’s funeral mass will be held Monday, March 24, 2025, at 10:30AM at St. Andrew's Catholic church. 2628 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL 33904
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