It is with heavy hearts that we announce Emily C. Griffo Navatta, 89, has been called to eternal rest among her late husband Dominick, and youngest son, Kenneth. Emily, a vivacious and loving woman who touched the lives of everyone she encountered, had the power to light up a room with her smile and wonderful sense of humor.
Born in Manhattan, NY, Emily met and married her high school sweetheart, Dominick, and had 3 wonderful children: Rochelle, James, and Kenneth. Emily gave 30+ years of service to the Holy Trinity Rectory, where she was a faithful patron of Holy Trinity Parish until her move to Wilmington, NC in 2016. Emily adored her family and friends, thoroughly enjoyed movies, playing BINGO and card games, and simply lived in the moment every day.
Emily leaves her legacy with her darling children: Rochelle and James; son-in-law: Michael; daughters-in-law: Sharon and Laura; her beloved grandchildren: Colin, Dominique, Dayna, Sean, and Jesse; her grandson-in-law: David; her treasured great-grandchildren: Miles, Ruby, Andre, and Cruz; and loving extended family and friends. We will all cherish the many memories Emily has bestowed upon us, and she will be deeply missed.
Visitation sessions will be held at Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home 10-25 150 Street Whitestone, NY 11357 on Saturday, April 20 from 5p-10p; Sunday, April 21 from 2p-4p & 7p-10p; and Monday, April 22 from 9a-10a. Services will be held at Holy Trinity Church 14-51 143rd St, Whitestone, NY 11357 on Monday, April 22 at 10:45a. Interment will follow at St. Raymond's Cemetery 2600 Lafayette Ave, Bronx, NY 10465.
Happy Birthday My Amazing Grace!!!!
Sent your birthday balloon up to Haven today and I'll have a Martini toast to your birthday tonight.
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but Love leaves memories no one can steal"
❤Missing you so Mom
Sent your birthday balloon up to Haven today and I'll have a Martini toast to your birthday tonight.
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but Love leaves memories no one can steal"
❤Missing you so Mom
Happy Birthday, Grandma! I'm lucky enough to be celebrating your birthday with my parents and dad has a message for you:
Dear Mom,
Another year is gone, trying to get used to you not being here. It always brings me a tear, but I do know that you are near.
Happy Birthday 2021.
Love,
Jim
Dear Mom,
Another year is gone, trying to get used to you not being here. It always brings me a tear, but I do know that you are near.
Happy Birthday 2021.
Love,
Jim
Happy birthday great Grandma!
We miss you so much.
I am sure the angels are celebrating with you. We love you and we miss you so much ❤️
Ruby, Miles, Andre and Cruz
We miss you so much.
I am sure the angels are celebrating with you. We love you and we miss you so much ❤️
Ruby, Miles, Andre and Cruz
Happy 92nd Birthday Mom
Sending balloons and getting you your flowers to wish you another Happy Birthday in heaven Mom. I know how you love to celebrate and I'm sure you're celebrating with Dad, Kenneth, all our relatives and your friends, but I'll never stop wishing you were here to celebrate all the wonderful years of You, my "Amazing Grace". Such an empty hole you left that I will never be able to be fill.
Always in my heart & missing you so.
Love you Mom,
Rochelle
PS A Martini toast to your birthday!
Sending balloons and getting you your flowers to wish you another Happy Birthday in heaven Mom. I know how you love to celebrate and I'm sure you're celebrating with Dad, Kenneth, all our relatives and your friends, but I'll never stop wishing you were here to celebrate all the wonderful years of You, my "Amazing Grace". Such an empty hole you left that I will never be able to be fill.
Always in my heart & missing you so.
Love you Mom,
Rochelle
PS A Martini toast to your birthday!
Dearest Mom,
There is an ache within my heart that will never go away. Time is suppose to heal wounds, but it seems as though all it does is make me miss you even more each day that you are gone.
❤Missing you so my "Amazing Grace".
There is an ache within my heart that will never go away. Time is suppose to heal wounds, but it seems as though all it does is make me miss you even more each day that you are gone.
❤Missing you so my "Amazing Grace".
Hi mom, just want to tell you i love you and miss you very much.we talk about you often and you will always be in my ❤️. May you be at peace with dad, nonnie, kenny and the rest of our family.
You’re son james.
You’re son james.
It’s your second anniversary in heaven Emily, and you are missed so much. Life here on earth has changed completely since you had to leave. I know in my heart that the good Lord protected you from this pandemic, and that you’re watching over all your family still here on earth, helping to keep us all safe and well. Thank you. Love you always!
Things are so different here without you, i hope you are having the time of your life up there. Aunt Em i think of you often and cant wait to hug you again. Until we reunite again.
I love you and miss you I love the story about the cats and love you so much thank you for giving me Nonna love Ruby
Wishing you a happy 91st birthday in heaven, surrounded by all our other loved ones who are with you on the other side!
So glad to have known Emily. I'll miss our "talks" and wine time. Thanks for raising such a beautiful soul - Rochelle. Your light willl live on within her.
Sending balloons to wish you a Happy 1st Birthday in heaven Mom. Know you're celebrating with Dad, Kenneth, all our relatives and your friends, but so selfish of me to wish you were here to celebrate "90" wonderful years of you with me.
Always in my heart & missing you so.
Love you Mom,
Rochelle
PS I'll have a Martini toast to your 90th birthday tonight!
Always in my heart & missing you so.
Love you Mom,
Rochelle
PS I'll have a Martini toast to your 90th birthday tonight!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR EMILY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN TO YOU!!!
THINKING OF YOU TODAY AND EVERY DAY, WITH LOVE!
SHARON
THINKING OF YOU TODAY AND EVERY DAY, WITH LOVE!
SHARON
If you knew our Mother
You Knew:
She was warm and welcoming (candy dishes in waiting)
Family always came first (Staten Island by ferry, South Hempstead by Southern State)
She was obligated to be strong and courageous but she always had it in her.
She loved wine or martinis at dinner and those rosy cheeks always gave it away
There could never be too many stuffed animals, decorations or wreaths organized by season.
She just “expected” a call and oftentimes a visit
She cherished life and wanted family and friends to share that gift with her
To blame the mail, never Emily, if the birthday card didn’t arrive before your birthday
Not to try to reach her by phone while she played cards or bingo or was watching “Dancing with the Stars”
She started her day by challenging herself with the word jumble and relished shopping at River Pottery
Friday was beauty parlor and Sunday nails.
A classy lady with matched clothes and jewelry worn with self pride
At times she could be “Parish Secretary” demanding and impatient. Her loving and giving so outweighed it
She was smart, organized and independent while managing to be the best mom, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and loyal friend
She was the heartbeat of our family and will always remain our Amazing Grace.
If you knew our mother Emily
You knew Love.
Love,
Rochelle, James, Michael, Sharon and Laura
You Knew:
She was warm and welcoming (candy dishes in waiting)
Family always came first (Staten Island by ferry, South Hempstead by Southern State)
She was obligated to be strong and courageous but she always had it in her.
She loved wine or martinis at dinner and those rosy cheeks always gave it away
There could never be too many stuffed animals, decorations or wreaths organized by season.
She just “expected” a call and oftentimes a visit
She cherished life and wanted family and friends to share that gift with her
To blame the mail, never Emily, if the birthday card didn’t arrive before your birthday
Not to try to reach her by phone while she played cards or bingo or was watching “Dancing with the Stars”
She started her day by challenging herself with the word jumble and relished shopping at River Pottery
Friday was beauty parlor and Sunday nails.
A classy lady with matched clothes and jewelry worn with self pride
At times she could be “Parish Secretary” demanding and impatient. Her loving and giving so outweighed it
She was smart, organized and independent while managing to be the best mom, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and loyal friend
She was the heartbeat of our family and will always remain our Amazing Grace.
If you knew our mother Emily
You knew Love.
Love,
Rochelle, James, Michael, Sharon and Laura
Dear Rochelle and Jimmy - My sincere condolences on the loss of your Mother. Emily was my best and dearest friend. I am going to miss her so much. In place of flowers I plan to make a donation to St. Jude’s in her memory. Much love, Dotty
We were so saddened to hear of dear Emily’s passing. We have many fond memories of her that we spent with Navatta family. We send our deepest sympathy to the family.....Jim, Sharon, Rochelle, Michael, Dayna, Jesse, and all the others. Much love to all of you at this difficult time.
Keppler and Susan Castano
Keppler and Susan Castano
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Doesn't She look beautifully radiant Mom!
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A remarkable life.
Dearest Emily,
How did you ever do it? Times were so different.Men were the bread providers while women did just about everything else,unrecognized.How could you have envisioned a time when Dom would not be there to write the checks and take you to the grocery store.I'm sure there was extreme fear but you had the inner strength and did what had to be done.Three young children and a household to manage. And manage you did. I always loved your daughter and was fortunate to fall back into her life and to participate in "your" family.You set standards (sometimes not so subtle) and they were right. I know they were right because everyone and I mean everyone respected you for being you.I don't think there was anyone coaching you to be confident,but it evolved quickly and manifested itself in your personal pride. You always took good care of yourself and yet managed to give so much to the family. Never did I see you hesitate to send a gift or scrimp on lobster for Christmas eve..It baffled me how you could so adroitly manage your financial life.I so admired your discipline and organizational strengths. It is work to stay connected and you did it because it was your role.You define matriarch. I thank you for our many personal conversations but most importantly for giving me the daughter that is so much you in many ways.Everyday is an anniversary of missing you.
How did you ever do it? Times were so different.Men were the bread providers while women did just about everything else,unrecognized.How could you have envisioned a time when Dom would not be there to write the checks and take you to the grocery store.I'm sure there was extreme fear but you had the inner strength and did what had to be done.Three young children and a household to manage. And manage you did. I always loved your daughter and was fortunate to fall back into her life and to participate in "your" family.You set standards (sometimes not so subtle) and they were right. I know they were right because everyone and I mean everyone respected you for being you.I don't think there was anyone coaching you to be confident,but it evolved quickly and manifested itself in your personal pride. You always took good care of yourself and yet managed to give so much to the family. Never did I see you hesitate to send a gift or scrimp on lobster for Christmas eve..It baffled me how you could so adroitly manage your financial life.I so admired your discipline and organizational strengths. It is work to stay connected and you did it because it was your role.You define matriarch. I thank you for our many personal conversations but most importantly for giving me the daughter that is so much you in many ways.Everyday is an anniversary of missing you.