Carmela Bitondo

Carmela Caropreso Bitondo, 90, died on October 11, 2018. She was born to Italian immigrants, Josephine and Louis Caropreso, on March 1, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Fort Hamilton High School, she was accepted to New York University. Her admission was deferred per the GI bill, and she went to work at Merrill Lynch. In 1952, she married meat cutter, Salvatore Bitondo. They lived in Cliffside Park, New Jersey and after their third daughter was born, Carmela became a full-time homemaker. She and Sal moved the family to Boca Raton, Florida in 1969, and shortly thereafter their last child was born.

In the early 1970s, Carmela and Sal opened the Colonial Meat Market to fulfill a dream to provide fine service to the families of Boca Raton. Carmela oversaw all aspects of the business. After Sal retired, he and Carmela traveled throughout the US. Sal became ill and Carmela was his devoted caregiver for seven years until his death. They were married for nearly 49 years.

Following Sal's death, Carmela joined a number of church ministries at her home parish of St. Joan of Arc. She made so many wonderful friends over these years. Carmela was especially proud of her work for the church's finance office. In 2014, she was able to visit Italy and see the birthplaces of her parents. During that trip she met Pope Francis, a highlight of her life.

Throughout her life, Carmela was devoted to her family - a selfless and hardworking wife and mother. She was fiercely independent until becoming ill in April of 2017. The family is very grateful for the loving care provided by the professionals of Senior Bridge, Aston Garden, and Vitas Hospice as well as Dr. Joseph Hadeed.

She is predeceased by her brother Frank Caropreso. She is survived by her children and their families: Dr. Carmel Bitondo Dyer and James Dyer, Jerene Bitondo and her children, Marc and Gina Steinberg, Donna Bitondo Ahern and Bill Ahern and Kirsten Franzese, and Major Salvatore Bitondo, Amber Bitondo and Dylan Clinton, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be visitation at the Babione-Kraeer Funeral Home, 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton on Monday October 15, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. The Rite of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church on 370 SW 3rd St, Boca Raton, FL 33432 at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Women of Grace Apostolate at www.womenofgrace.com or Women of Grace P.O. Box 5828 Clearwater, Fl 33758 or St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary at 10701 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach Florida, 33436.