Ada Wolbrum

Ada Wolbrum (née Paone) passed away peacefully at her home in the care of her loving children. Born in Brooklyn in 1929, during the Great Depression, Ada carried a bright, resilient spirit, full of kindness and grace, despite any hardships she faced. She lived most of her long and happy life in Gravesend, Brooklyn. She attended P.S.216, Bay Ridge High School, and took classes at Brooklyn College. The daughter of Nellie and Francesco Paone, Ada was one of six children and stayed close to her siblings throughout their lives.

Ada was the heart and soul of her family, bringing generations together around the table for delicious home-cooked meals during holidays and on ordinary evenings with her children and grandchildren, whom she adored. Ada was famous for her cooking – especially her homemade pasta sauces and the “Feast of the Seven Fishes” she cooked for her large family every Christmas. She was a talented knitter, generously giving her beautiful handmade hats, scarves, sweaters, and Christmas stockings to friends and family (and even Martha Stewart). She loved acting, was a self-declared “ham,” and was a member of her Senior Citizens’ Acting Group. She was an excellent Scrabble player and loved watching Jeopardy with her daughter Kris and son Todd every night. She loved music, classic movies, dancing, and reading, especially the poetry of Mary Oliver, of which she had an extensive collection. She also had a sweet tooth and most often had a Tootsie Pop nearby. She loved spending summers by the ocean with her family. She loved visiting Coney Island and Long Island, especially Montauk. Even in the final months of her life, her family took her to the beach to enjoy the sun and sand and to be together in the company of her adoring family. There was nothing she loved more than that.

She was an incredible mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, wife, and great-aunt, and loved her family immensely. Unsurprisingly, everyone who knew her loved her too. It was impossible not to. She was beautiful, bright, talented, hardworking, witty, and had a heart of absolute gold. She would often remind her family “be good to one another,” and she lived by her mantras: “kindness goes a long way” and “treat others how you want to be treated.” She was fiercely loyal to her children. She loved her “four favorite girls”- her granddaughters–so much. She was happily married to her husband George for over forty years and spoke of him lovingly all the time. Her family was so lucky to have her in their lives for as long as they did. She will be so profoundly missed.

Ada is predeceased by her parents Nellie Paone and Francesco Paone, her beloved husband George Wolbrum and siblings Marion Paone, Santa (Santina) Borthwick, and “Trixsie” or “Ree-Ree” Vera (Elvira) Ciulla, and Anthony Paone. She is survived by her three children, Kris Pelaez (and husband Luis Pelaez), Todd Wolbrum, and Dale Walden (and wife Rosemary Walden), her granddaughters Nina Pelaez (and husband Elliot Krasnopoler), Julia Pelaez, Taylor Walden, and Lindsay Walden, her brother Frank Paone (and wife Marienne Paone), their son Alex (and his wife Melissa) who was like a grandson to her, and many grand-nieces and nephews all of whom she loved tremendously.

A visitation for Ada will be held Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cusimano & Russo Funeral Home, 2005 West 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11223. A visitation will occur Monday, November 13, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, 2005 West 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11223. An entombment will occur Monday, November 13, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM at The Evergreens Cemetery, 1629 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207.

In lieu of flowers, At the family's request, Donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or any charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cusimanoandrussofuneralhome.com for the Wolbrum family.