Orphaned as a child, along with her sister Enza, in Naples, Italy, before the start of WWII, they moved from Rome to Naples, Italy, to live with an aunt and uncle, who already had nine children. Tina's early years were truly the story of Cinderella. As her adopted family struggled to feed everyone, Tina was chosen to stay home to cook and clean while the rest of the children attended school. As the war began, life became very difficult for the family and they fled to the countryside to avoid the bombings, initially by the Americans and later by the Germans. Once it was safe, the family returned to find Naples destroyed with the exception of a few buildings, one of which was the apartment they had lived in previously.
Soon after, Tina and her sister, though still very young, moved out to find work in the city, which was then occupied by the British and Americans. While working for the British, she met her Prince Charming, an American soldier named Tommy Calhoun. After the war, Tommy returned stateside. He and a fellow soldier, Daniel Henderson, found they had a similar desire to return to Italy to marry the two sisters. After a double ceremony in Naples, Italy, Tommy and Tina returned to Tyler, TX, to start their life together.
They had two children, Mark A Calhoun (wife Angelika) of Dallas, Texas, and Steven E Calhoun, (wife Debbie) of Tyler, Texas. She is survived by her grandchildren, Brian Calhoun (wife Lisa) Dallas, TX, Bradley Calhoun (wife Angela) Austin, TX, Glen Calhoun (wife Jeri), Bossier City, LA, Ashley Calhoun (fiancee Carlos Seckler) Austin, TX, and Clay Calhoun (wife Kelsey) Midland, TX, as well as five great-and three great-great grandchildren.
Tina was a generous, loving spirit marked by unending devoted care for others, including the love of her life, Tommy, who preceded her in death in October, 2011.
Her heart was full of love, warmth and care for everyone she knew and came in contact with, including all the children at Andy Woods Elementary school, where she worked as the playground teacher and teacher's aide for many years. Her truest and closest friend was Eva Denson, also a war bride from Italy, who settled in Tyler. All family events in Tina's young marriage included Eva and her husband and all family trips as her children grew older were to visit her sister Enza and her family.
A special thank you to Debbie Calhoun for her unending devotion to Nonna while she was at the Hamptons Retirement home, as well as to all the nurses and staff. Another special thank you goes to all the caregivers from Heart-to-Heart Hospice who gave her life a peaceful ending.
Her love and her light will be sorely missed by her family and all who knew her.
On Wednesday, November 21, a private graveside service will be held at Tyler Memorial Cemetery to be followed by a Memorial Service at 12pm at Marvin United Methodist Church under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marvin United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.
