Marianne Gallo

Marianne was so full of life that she nearly made it to her 100th birthday. Born in Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan to Vincent and Carmela DiMilta, she was the younger sister to Christine. It was in the Village that she met Hector Gallo, marrying on June 14, 1942. Together they enjoyed a long and loving marriage, Hector passing in 2001.

Family was always the center of her life, a value she passed on to her three children, Stephen (married to Barbara Schiels), Carolyn (married to Pat Corbo) and Gary (married to Kathryn Corbo). Nothing pleased Marianne as much as large family gatherings with her children and grandchildren Jennifer, Jay, Stephen, Sarah, Alex, Jimmy, Michael, and Kathryn. She also lived to enjoy the next generation, her great grandchildren Abigail, Matthew, Kaitlyn, Madeleine, Bobby, George, Stella and Nathaniel.

Marianne was an incredible cook, often preparing lavish three course meals. Pasta was always a staple, but she also took great pride in her eggplant parmigiana, Sunday meat sauce, and many other specialties of the house. When dining out, she could be a stern critic, her first question being "Is the bread warm?"

Hector and Marianne made a dynamic couple, constantly on the move, both literally and figuratively. As her son Gary says of his parents, "The Gallo's are a nomadic tribe". They started their life in Astoria, Queens, and moved to Oakwood, in Staten Island around 1954. They then moved to Grasmere, New Dorp, Arrochar and finally to Randall Manor, where Marianne resided at the time of her death. During their lives, Hector and Marianne travelled frequently, both to Boca Raton, Florida, where they owned a second home, and also vacationing in various destinations in the US and Europe, including the Province of Potenza, Italy, where she visited the birthplace of her mother Carmela.

Marianne was a talented and self-taught artist, as evidenced by many fine paintings that adorn her home and the homes of her children. She also loved to play cards with her friends, and after outliving many in her generation, with the friends of her daughter Carolyn. Those women soon in turn became Marianne's fast friends as well, enjoying her sense of humor as well as desserts she would prepare.

After her husband passed away, Marianne spent many summers in Lake George, at the cabin of her daughter and son-in-law, where she delighted in playing May I and other games with her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren as they became old enough to enjoy them.

In her last few years as her memory began to fade and she became less vigorous, she would often amaze her family when grandchildren and great grandchildren stopped by for a visit, suddenly returning to her old self, kibbitzing and making everyone around her laugh. As health issues took their toll, she was fortunate to be able to spend her final days at home, surrounded by her wonderfully caring Filipino aides Tita and Nannette, whose care and devotion were greatly appreciated.

Marianne died peacefully at home in the loving arms of her devoted daughter Carolyn. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

There will be a private viewing for family on Wednesday December 16th at Harmon Funeral Parlor, 9:30-11:30 a.m., (masks required), followed by an 11:45 a.m. mass at Sacred Heart Church. Interment will follow at Moravian Cemetery, where she will at long last be reunited with her beloved husband Hector.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory by check to Staten Island Giving Circle, 240 Guyon Ave., S.I., NY 10301, or through PayPal at www.StatenIslandGivingCircle.org ; or to Visiting Nurse Service of New York, 220 E 42nd St., NYC, NY 10017.