Esmeralda Basta

Esmerelda, or as many called her, Nenella or Nonna, was born on March 12, 1925 in Mandatoriccio, Italy to Luigi and Angelina LaPietra. She married Francesco Basta and together they raised Franca, Maria, Franco, Angelina, and Luigi.

Nenella was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Franca, her son Franco, and her grandson, Mario Basta. She is survived by her daughter Maria Parrotta & husband Domenico, their children; Pasquale, Roseanne, Kristine, and Angela, her late son Franco Basta’s wife, Maryellen and their children, Frank Jr., Lisa, Allison, and David, her daughter Angelina Rossi & husband Ali and ex-husband Frank Guerriero, their children; Carmela, Franco, and Cristina, her son Luigi Basta & wife Mary, their children; Tara and Dante, her sister-in-law, Rosina (married to her late brother, Virgilio,) their children; Luigi, Angela, Nancy, and Maria, and several nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

In 1963, Nenella moved to America with her children to join her husband in New Jersey. It was there that they owned an Italian restaurant where the whole family would lend a hand. She lived for her family—and was blessed to be able to witness the marriages of her children and the births of their children— as well as the marriages of her grandkids and births of her great-grandkids.

Nenella knit and crocheted her whole life—every single family member most likely still has a pair of socks (pantofole), a scarf, hat or baby blanket (shalo). When her daughter Maria would take her highschool classes abroad, Nenella would join as a chaperone and all of the students loved her company. She loved to share recipes and cook huge family meals for anyone that showed up. She loved to dance—while washing the dishes or at weddings at age 93. Nenella wasn’t just Nonna to her family—many also thought of her as their grandmother. People gravitated towards her and she touched them in ways that can not be explained. Her faith was strong—she’d often pray to Saint Padre Pio, recite the rosary, and read from her bible.

In her later years, you’d often find her walking around the block or mall for exercise, stopping to talk with everyone and spending countless hours laughing and playing with her great-grandson, Lucas. When you visited with her, she would spend hours recounting her life stories and lessons from her extraordinary life.

She will be missed by many.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 26th, 2021 at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108 at 12’clock p.m. We request that all attending has either had COVID in the past 90 days or has received the vaccine.

Flowers may be sent to 7126 Sugar Magnolia Ct. Naples, FL 34109.