Carmela DeSantis

Carmela De Santis January 30, 1934 – March 9, 2021 Carmela De Santis Died on March 9, 2021, survived by her two sons Vito & Vincenzo, their wives Aura & Corrine, grandchildren Marina, Adrianna, Vito Jr, Aurora, Nicolas, Joseph and a sister Michelina. Her Husband Vito (Mike), parents Vito & Rosa and older sister Anna have predeceased her Carmela De Santis was born on January 30, 1934 in Carbonara di Bari, which is in the region of Puglia Italy to Vito and Rosa. She had two sisters Anna, who has predeceased her, and Michelina (Lena). She grew up during World War II in Italy. Her mother being a strong-willed woman, provided for her three girls, her grandmother Carmela and assisted many other relatives who were struggling as so many were during that period. Her Father Vito, was in America at that time, trying to get his family to join him, but political issues prevented that from happening. After the war ended, Carmela with her Mother and Sisters were finally able to leave Italy, and come to America and lived in East Harlem in NYC. Her parents and older sister were working and Carmela and her sister Lena were sent to Boarding schools to the Salesian Nuns at Mary Help of Christian Academy in North Haledon NJ. She lived there during her formative years and graduated high school. My Mother had fond memories of her time with the Salesian Sisters. As many immigrants do, she went back to Italy and married my father Vito, known his life as Mike, in 1957. They lived in Little Italy section of the Bronx and had two sons, Vito and Vincenzo. They eventually bought a house, settled in St Anthony’s Parish and lived in the Bronx the rest of her life. My mother was a woman of faith, who went to church every day, thank goodness for EWTN, said the rosary every day and prayed for her family and friends daily. She took care of my Dad during his many medical issues in his life and struggled with her own health issues later in her life but never lost her faith which only seemed to get stronger. She died on March 9 2021. My mother would always say, the Nuns at Mary Help of Christian Academy, would tell her to Prayer for a Happy Death. Truthfully, for many years I did not understand what this meant but as life ages all of us, I know that my Mother Died a Happy Death with Family by her side, my brother and I with the help of our wives, Aura and Corrine, and their children took care of her in her later years, she received last rights, able to have a wake, Funeral Mass, and Christian Burial. This all may not have been possible a few short months ago. Carmela De Santis lived a long and fulfilled life, God in her heart and love for her Family