Angelina Arasi, 93, of Alpharetta, GA passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2018. She was born in Manhattan, NY on November 18, 1924 to parents Maria Concetta and Vincenzo Crifo. Just after WWII ended, Angelina married Demetrio Arasi, also of Manhattan. As first generation American children of Italian immigrants, they possessed strong work ethics and raised their own children to believe in the importance of hard work to achieve their American dreams. In 1960, the couple moved their growing family to the Long Island suburb of Commack, NY. Angelina worked many years as a professional seamstress at Artstone Theatrical Company (Danskin). A woman of varied talents, she enjoyed sharing her delicious Italian cooking with family and friends, and also loved to listen to music and go ballroom dancing with her husband.
In 1993, Demetrio and Angelina moved south to Georgia to be close to their grown children and grandkids. After her husband of fifty years passed away in 1996, Angelina continued to live a full active life in her new surroundings. Her Italian dinners continued to be legendary to all who enjoyed sitting at her large dining room table! She was always graciously generous with her time and skills, helping her kids with sewing projects and Italian cooking lessons. Over the years, she participated in many church and senior clubs. Bingo and canasta were two of her favorite games. She was the organizer of Prime-Timers, the Saint Brigid parishioners’ monthly luncheon.
Her children and grandchildren were her greatest legacy, and she supported and cheered them on at every milestone and achievement. On the dance floor, this stylishly outfitted 90-something could still outdance the younger generations AND even surprise the grandkids with a hip hop move or two! Cooking and baking were her lifetime creative passions, and as with her dance moves, she could delight and surprise her dinner guests with new mouth watering dishes! She was the quintessential Italian matriarch who watched over her family tirelessly and served up constant love, support AND nourishment! She loved this country and never stopped believing in the American dream through all the decades of struggles and change including The Great Depression, wars, and personal loss.
Angelina was preceded in death by her parents, Maria Concetta and Vincenzo Crifo, her husband Demetrio, and siblings: Carmela Orifici, Mary Collora, Joseph Crifo, and Rosaria DeGaspera.
Survivors include, daughter; Linda Arasi, sons; Tony (Melissa), Robert (Courtney), Tom (Sandra Quintero), and Richard (Kathy), grandchildren; Anthony Arasi, Ryan Arasi, Ben Arasi, Victoria Arasi Hauff (Mitchell), Jenny Arasi, Alexandra Arasi, Laura Albornoz, Demetria Arasi, and Luca Arasi.
The Arasi family has been so blessed to have Mom and Grandma Arasi in their lives for so many years and will cherish her memory always.
In lieu of flowers, Angelina’s wish was that donations be made to Saint Brigid Catholic Church. (saintbrigid.org).
