Carmela Esposito

Born Casablanca, Morroco, Feb 20, 1929 to Guiseppe Orsini and Elena Fortunata Vindigni. Lived in Morocco with parents until beginning of WWII, and at that time went back to live in the homeland of Italy, specifically in Ragusa, Sicily, where she met her future husband. Together they had two children, Filippa Josianne Mancuso, and Luigi Mancuso. They later separated, and Carmela moved with her daughter Filippa to New York City in the 1960s, when the Moroccan government was asking foreigners to leave. In New York she moved with a relative, Ernesto Vindigni who owned Villa Roma, a fishing resort in the Catskills. She and her daughter did some work at the resort until they were able to make arrangements elsewhere. It was through Ernesto and friends that she met Frank Esposito, her future husband. She later attended dressmaking school and worked for some famous designers in New York before opening her own shop in Westlake Village, CA, where she tailored outfits for people such as the Mayor of Westlake Village, Mickey Rooney, and local ladies wanting custom made wedding dresses. She collaborated on numerous costume designs with her grand-daughter Marie Christine, including a mermaid costume with a very long "mermaid" tail before this was popular. She and her husband Frank were the "hosts with the most" at holidays. There were always anti-pasti from local Italian Market Bauduccos in Westlake, and pastry platters from Nicholosi Patisserie in Encino, CA. She will most be remembered for her colorful fashion, her warmth and generosity. , and her ability to bring the whole family together in peace at holidays.

Survived by: Children Filippa Josiane (Mancuso) Sepich, and Luigi Mancuso. Step son Phillip Esposito and Grandchildren. Marie-Christine Sepich, Eric Christopher Sepich, Jose Mancuso (Pronounced Yo-say) and Pascal Mancuso, and several great grandchildren in New York and Italy.