Carmela Cecilia Castellano

Carmela Castellano passed away at the age of 95 in the early morning of July 23, 2024. Born March 27, 1929 to Pauline & Joseph Damone, Carmela grew up Island Park, New York with her two sisters (Mae) Domenica Pia (b. 1926-) and Theresa Pauline (1927-2003.) She married the love of her life, Salvatore Castellano (1926-2011) on October 12, 1947. Together they went on to have two children, Laurie Jean and Mark Joseph, two grandchildren Francesca Nicole and Matthew Michael (Cheyenne) and four great-grandchildren that you could always count on to light up her life, Elena Nicole, Mia Angelina, Sadie Leigh & Ashlynn Elizabeth.

Carmela and Salvatore honeymooned in romantic Niagara Falls before settling down together back in Island Park. There she ran the Laurie Jean bakery, a branch off of Joe’s Market.

Her family later moved to Coral Gables, Florida where they stayed to care for her parents. After her daughter’s back surgery she got a job working for that same surgeon and his two partners as a billing and front office manager. She retired of course, only after he did.

Together she and her husband traveled the world via the perks of her husband’s long time job as the Carnival Cruise Line purchasing manager. Seeing the world together was a dream she never imagined would come to fruition.

Eventually they retired together to be closer to her children and grandchildren while building a home together in Punta Gorda, Florida.

It was in Deep Creek where she helped found the San Antonio Catholic Church. Originally located in the Deep Creek Commons, she spearheaded fundraising efforts to locate the church to a formal building. She was a cornerstone to their growth and was crucial to its establishment as the first president of the women’s guild.

Carmela was the woman you could count on to look out for you. She loved and cared for everyone around her by always making sure they were ok and true to her Italian heritage, that they never left on an empty stomach. Whether it was a homemade lasagna or pizza of which the leftovers were fought over by her son & godson (Jose,) Carmela will be remembered most for the immense love she gave to everyone she came across.

A memorial mass will be held at San Antonio Catholic Church in Punta Gorda on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11 am followed by private interment in the memorial garden and reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests material donations be made in her name to the Port Charlotte Rehab Center where the staff reciprocated the care she always gave to others. Alternatively, monetary donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice in Port Charlotte.