Carmen S. Simonelli

Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on July 16, 1927 to Augustin Cisneros and Maria Martinez, she was the second youngest of six siblings. She immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Washington Heights, NY.

Carmen graduated from Straubenmuller Textile High School. She inherited her mother’s talent in sewing, working as a seamstress before becoming an assistant to a buyer at the Woolworth Company in downtown Manhattan. She continued to maintain her sewing skills throughout her life, making clothes for her daughter and granddaughter, and lovingly creating the christening gown and bonnet for her grandchildren Nicholas and Kelsey.

Carmen met her life’s love, Nazaro Simonelli, through a blind date. Naz impressed Carmen on their second date when he took her to the opera, and it was then their love was cemented. They were married on June 22, 1958, celebrating 59 years of marriage until Naz’s death in 2017. They remain united in eternal love. Carmen was deeply loved by family and friends who describe her as beautiful, generous, and kind. She enjoyed sharing her life’s experiences and had a humorous knack for sharing her observations. She held great appreciation for classical music, dance, theater, and old movies. She enjoyed a good glass of wine or prosecco, eggplant parmigiana, shrimp cocktail, French fries (her favorite indulgence), and espresso. She was an avid Bingo player and had an affinity for Parcheesi which never ceased to illicit fun and laughter for her and great pride when she won. Carmen will be missed profoundly by her son Michael, daughter Anna, son-in-law Danny, grandchildren Nick and Kelsey, brother Rey, sister-in-law Carmen and other extended family and friends who all love and adore her. “Fly away little birdie, fly away”.

A graveside service for Carmen will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Palm Eastern Mortuary & Cemetery, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123.

Expressions of sympathy in Carmen’s memory can be made by a contribution to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) www.nami.org.