She was born in 1925 in New York City to parents Ernesto Cognasso and Maria Saracco and
lived most of her life in the Big Apple. Being a child of immigrants, her first language was
Italian, and she only learned English when she started school. Although as a child she wanted
to be a Latin teacher, she became interested in business, married, and ran a small grocery
store with her husband, Giuseppe “Joe” Gallo. She later went to work for Citibank, and
enjoyed a career there until she retired. A few years later, she moved to Texas to be closer to
her daughter, Linda Marcogliese, her son-in-law, James Marcogliese, and her grandchildren.
Carol was a wonderful cook, knitter, and gardener. She was very proud of her Italian heritage,
and loved to travel, go to the theater, and spend time with her family. It was one of her great
joys to become a great-grandmother in 2008, and one of her greatest heartbreaks to be
preceded in death by her only child, Linda, in 1996.
Carol is survived by her son-in-law, James Marcogliese, his wife Judy, granddaughter Andrea
Marcogliese with husband Alex Saenz and stepson Dante Saenz, grandson Peter Marcogliese,
his wife Sarah, and children Gia, Jade, and Kian, and grandson Michael Marcogliese and his
wife Lauren Gunn.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 14th at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E
10th St, Houston, TX 77008 at 10AM.
