Delmy Dardano

Delmy Dardano, known to family and friends as “Mama Delmy” and “Lita,” died Saturday, June 25, at Tulane University Medical Center. She was 88 years old. She was born in Sensuntepeque, El Salvador on March 18, 1934. She later moved to the United States and married her husband, Jose Dardano, on Feb. 2, 1970. She became a citizen on June 25, 1986, and resided in Metairie, Louisiana, where she was a cosmetologist.

She enjoyed cooking for family, painting the nails of clients and grandchildren, and watching television.

Cooking was a passion of hers, and her meals often impacted her friends and family. Ernesto Dardano, her son, said he enjoyed cooking with her and learning how she prepares family staples.

People could feel the love in her food. It brought them comfort and created some of the best memories for her children.

“My favorite memory of her is cooking chicken and rice for me before I deployed for combat,” said Will Dardano, her son.

She also was known for her fun and playful personality. She knew how to make people laugh.

“She would always lurk around the corners of her house and try to scare me,” said Bella Dardano, her granddaughter. “Going to her house as a kid was always fun because we would hide and scare each other.”

She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed every moment of playing and being silly with them.

“Grandma was afraid I would get bored, so she turned making jello into an adventure and we had fun all afternoon checking on the jello,” said Isabella, her granddaughter.

Lastenia Dardano, her daughter, said Delmy would always play games with her whenever she asked.

She was also known for her caring nature. She walked her grandchildren to school and pre-school, cooked for them after school and painted their nails.

“She always made sure everyone was taken care of,” said Jackie Dardano, her daughter-in-law. “She cooked, cleaned the house and always made sure everyone was ok.”

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Dardano, and is survived by children, Lastenia Dardano; Ernesto Dardano; and Guillermo “Will” Dardano; and grandchildren Bella Dardano and Isabella.

There will be a last viewing for family on July 2 at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home.