Carmella was born on April 6, 1922 in Frankfort, New York to Antonio Sgroi and Angeline Purpura Of Sicily, Italy. She was the middle child of 9, and the eldest of the girls in her family. She spent a majority of her formative years helping to raise her younger siblings and help her family with running the household.
At age 15, she met a young man named Salvatore Micciche. They courted for 7 years before getting married because as Carmella always said she "had spent most of my childhood being a homemaker and I'm not in a hurry to do it all over again." Salvatore was willing to wait just to be able to spend the rest of his life with Carmella. They were together in love until his passing in 1981.
Carmella and Salvatore spent their lives together with many friends and raising their family. They were also avid fans of horse racing and spent many weekends with their friend Josie and cousin Dolores watching the races at the track. Their children fondly remember going with them on occasion to the horse track and being treated to dinner by whomever won the most that day.
Carmella was a strong, devoted mother dedicated to raising her children and instilling in them the same strength and abilities. She handled everything with a "tough love" approach. When the children in the neighborhood had their differences, she felt it was best to let the kids "work things out on their own," where the other mothers on the block tried to work between the parents to solve their children's conflicts. Her opinion was that "kids were kids" and that parents needn't be bothered with petty squabbles that would "resolve themselves in 5 minutes anyways."
After the passing of her husband, Carmella took on many different jobs outside of the home. She volunteered with the American Heart Association, the polling places during elections, and at age 60, she took on the job of working as a school aide and crossing guard with Palmetto School District where she worked for 20 years. She retired at 80 years old. All of the children at the school looked at her as their own grandma. She would even often share her famous fried dough treats, covered in powdered sugar, with the children at the school. She would see the local school children out and about in town with their parents and they would run up to her yelling "Hi Grandma!" Their parents would always look in confusion and the children would have to explain that Carmella was their "school grandma."
Carmella's pride and joy was her family. She is survived by her four children; Anthony "Tony" Micciche of Fontana, CA, Angeline Stafford of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Theresa Arnel and her Husband Michael of Yucaipa, CA, and Josephine "Jo" Wilson and her husband Russell Wilson, Sr. or Bullhead City, AZ.
She is also survived by her 8 grandchildren; Jeromy Micciche, Dana Castro, Gina Stafford, Robert Stafford, Jr., Kristen Arnel, Eric Arnel, Russell Wilson, Jr., and JoAnn Wilson-Dutton (Dave Dutton).
Her legacy continues on in her 15 great-grandchildren; Jacob Micciche, Emily Micciche, Allyson Stafford, Kyle Stafford, Chance Arnel, Mason Zumpano, Chloey Fletcher, Jacob Arnel, Avery Arnel, Aleena Arnel, Brittney Dutton, Ashley Dutton, Alyssa Dutton, Mary Jane Dutton and David Dutton.
She joins her husband Salvatore and daughter Annette in eternal rest. She was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her.
