Eileen Cecelia Caravello

Our precious Mom faded away peacefully on December 16, 2022 after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Mom never surrendered her incredible positive loving outlook on people, pets, and life.

Mom was born in NYC and raised in Elmhurst, Queens and very proud of her Irish/Catholic heritage. She met Joseph Salvatore Caravello “Joe” at the local roller rink as a teenager. They married on May 29, 1948 when Mom was 19 and Dad was 23, at a time when marrying someone from a different culture was taboo. All four of her children also married someone from a different culture! Mom loved all the differences and always was accepting.

Mom would also let you know she had four children she was extremely proud of but would exclaim, “I married an Italian, so now you can understand”- wink, wink. It was Dad’s idea to name the first-born after Mom. She would always joke “my husband did that, as if one wasn’t enough!” She would say simple direct things that hit your funny bone.

Mom worked at a doctor’s answering service for 25 years. In addition, there was always a home-cooked dinner on the table.

Many creative leftovers but always delicious. Home-made apple pies from our two apple trees, Christmas Eve Italian feast with ravioli, hot & mild Italian sausage (we’d have to guess by tasting!) and the best NY pastries, cannoli, cheesecake, Struffoli, and more.

Mom always set a beautiful formal table. After Thanksgiving Mom started preparing her fruitcakes by pouring whiskey over it daily for a month in the basement and made buttery decorated Christmas cookies, and every year sent a package to her kids living in California.

A St. Patrick’s Day feast by Mom included corned beef & cabbage, Irish soda bread, green and orange jello with cream on top (for the Irish flag). Food and family gatherings around cold cuts too all hold a special place in our memories.

Mom’s legacy is apparent in the faces of her children and Grandchildren that she devoted her life to. Mom made friends everywhere and had so many daily interactions where she felt connected to someone. Mom felt we were all G-d’s children.

She had a strong need to help others and was very tuned into others’ feelings. She was a bright light in the universe, an Empath. She always filled the room with warmth and her heart was always in the right place.

Mom was very adaptable and went with the flow of generational change, being up for almost everything! She had an open heart and was non-judgmental at her core. Despite her own life’s traumas, she never gave up, and never became bitter. She always thought of others first and we all felt loved unconditionally.

Mom’s essence to convey being loved and accepted is a feeling of contentment. Mom left so much goodwill behind that it will continue to blossom to perpetuity, to the Grandkids that Mom cherished and brought her so much pride and joy:

Emily, Jason, Zach, Hayley, Kaitlin and Jennifer and to her Great Grandchildren Leah, Frankie, Jake, Arwen, Lawrence and Mila. Plus all the family we had on the East Coast Mom talked about and cared about over the years.

Mom gave donations over the last 3 decades to animal rights organizations. If you would like to make a tribute to her memory, these three options were important to her:

Giving Animals a Voice – Social Compassion In Legislation socialcompassioninlegislation.org

Temple Bat Yahm – Spiritual Home Tby.org

Heritage Pointe Assisted Living & Memory Care Heritagepointe.org