Tina B. Cardone Ondrick Kithcart

Tina Kithcart was born to Vittorio and Bettina Cardone in Naples, Italy. Her given name was Assunta Cardone. She was the oldest of three children — brother, Umberto and sister, Adriana. It was often a hard-scrabble life during the depression and war years. And like many of her generation, Tina was greatly affected by those difficult experiences.

During World War II, Tina was working as a nurse’s aide when she met Ray Ondrick, an MP in the U. S. Army serving at the same Naples hospital. They were married in Naples and she became an “Italian war bride.” She left her native Italy when they traveled by ship to New York and then on to his family home in Chicago, Illinois. They had two daughters, Carol and Sandra.

In Chicago, Tina learned the English language and also how to cook. She had not learned to cook in Italy. Taught by an Italian-American friend, she began developing her renowned cooking skills.

The marriage didn’t last. Tina, Carol and Sandy moved to a basement apartment in Cicero. Tina worked at Western Electric to help support them. It was there she met Jim Kithcart, an electrical engineer, whom she eventually married. They all moved to a third floor apartment where they were living when Adriana was born. They then bought a small house in Westchester, Illinois.

Two years later, Tina gave birth to fraternal twins, Janet and Jim. Having outgrown the Westchester house, they moved to Palatine, Illinois. There, they had an acre of land in a rural area. After their youngest daughter, Vittoria was born, they soon realized she had health issues and the doctor suggested a drier climate. Jim applied for a transfer to an office in Colorado.

In 1964, they had a five bedroom home built on Hillway in Littleton, Colorado and moved in on Christmas Eve. Tina enjoyed living in this community and made many close friends. She stayed in Littleton for the rest of her life.

Jim and Tina separated in the early 1970s. She went to work at Romano’s restaurant in Littleton as a hostess. It was there she met Michael, who remained her closest friend and love until the end of her life.

Tina stayed close to her Italian family and made several trips to Naples over the years. Jim and Tina brought her mother to live with the family in Palatine for two years, and her sister, Adriana made four trips to visit her in the U. S.

Tina was an excellent pen pal and stayed in touch with the many friends she made on her life’s journey. She enjoyed painting, making ceramics and crafting. She took great pride in her cooking — her excellent red sauce could not be duplicated — and enjoyed entertaining. By far, she considered her greatest accomplishment her six children, 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Our Mother and Nana was a remarkable woman who came to a foreign country as a girl and made a life for all of us. We are proud of her. We celebrate her life and will miss, love and remember her throughout our lives.

Ciao, Bella.