Salene Ann Stathas

Salene Stathas was born Salene Mazzone in 1950 to George and Josephine Mazzone. She had one older sister Sharelle Mazzone. Salene grew up in Cicero Illinois surrounded by an abundance of family. The Mazzone family was one of the first in Cicero and encompassed a whole block with each living next door to one another. She had so many cousins that friends were not really needed. Salene, her sister and her cousins grew up in a time and town where everyone knew everyone. She attended Our lady of Charity catholic school where she would often find her sister Sherrie kneeling in the hallway on her books, after getting in trouble with the nuns. Salene, her sister and cousins would find themselves roller-skating in their Aunt Lucy’s basement on Friday nights. Her family was a constant, loving, and nurturing part of her life and would teach her how to love her own family one-day. When Salene turned 10 she met Judy Trimarco who would quickly become a lifetime best friend and second sister to her.

As Salene became a teenager, she filled her days attending Morton East High School and her social time hanging out with friends and listening to Elvis Presley, her favorite singer. When Salene was 19 she would meet the love of her life Chris Stathas. Two years later in 1972 they were married. In 1973 Gia Ann Stathas would be born and Salene’s calling into motherhood would begin. 1974 came along and her role expanded to Aunti Salene as George Gerbasi and Peter Stathas were born. In 1978 a new boy would come into her life, his name was Christopher Stathas. She also became an Aunt again to her on and only niece Shera Stathas. The love that Salene experienced was nothing like ever before. Salene would love her children and became the focal point of their lives for the rest of her days. Salene would often go without, open up her house for their friends, and always put their interests before her own. This is a trait that she would pass on and instill into both children.

In 1982 her aunt Dolores introduced her and the family to Christianity, and Jesus became the Lord of her life for the rest of eternity. Never liking cold weather Salene started an exodus to Florida that included her family. They would settle in Pembroke Pines where they still remain to this day. In 1986 she started attending Grace Christian Center in Hollywood Florida were she remained a member till the end of her days. In 1996 Salene started working for the United States Government where she would meet many friends who went on to love and cherish her. She would also meet Guido Gomez at this time who became her life companion who helped and supported the family through many of their life events, good and bad. In 2001 Salene would celebrate the marriage of Chris to Esther.

After meeting Esther for the first time she told Chris as only she could “I like her, why don’t you marry her.” 2002 Salene helped her kids through the tragedy of losing their father, always being the pillar of strength and love that would shelter them all of their days. 2011 came along and Salene would meet a little boy who would be the love of her life and companion for the remainder of her days, Chris Peter Stathas was born. Salene became a grandmother and somehow would find a way to be an even better grandmother than she was a mother, which is pretty impossible. In 2012 life would dictate that Salene had to retire from work and she became a fulltime grandmother.

In 2014 Salene would welcome Alexis and Ariana into her house. She now had twin girls to add to her legacy of being a grandmother. She would often sing to them every morning and would sit outside with her neighbor Cindy and Grandson Chris always keeping a watchful eye on her little buddy and her poopalettes. She would spend her days talking to her sister Sherrie at least once every 2 hours. They would become this generations Dolores and Lucy (their aunts). She also found out that she would now become a great aunt to George and Stella’s baby girl Sophia. Salene had a unique bond with her children, especially her son. She was his first and everlasting love and the two of them tackled life’s challenges like a tag team until the Lord called her home.

Salene also passed on her motherly instinct to Gia and passed on the torch to lead the family. Salene leaves a legacy of a love that can only come from God himself and she passed it onto her family and friends. The greatest gift she gave her children was teaching them to Love the Lord with all their heart. The love and impression that she left will never be forgotten. We will love her all the days of our lives. Till we meet again mommy.

Love Always,

Chris, Gia, Esther, little Chris, Alexis and Ariana.

Donations may be made for the grandchildren’s trust fund in memory of Salene Ann Stathas by making checks payable to cash. The trust will be set up by the family. In the memo section of the check indicate: “Grandchildren’s Trust Salene A. Stathas.” Donations can be mailed to: Christopher G. Stathas 12068 NW 13th Street, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026.