I am so blessed to have such an amazing, and caring woman as my nana. In my eyes my nana could NEVER do any wrong, and I made sure anyone and everyone knew that she was never wrong. I knew no matter what I would always defend my nana because she was one of the greatest if not THE greatest person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Absolutely nothing topped your phone calls, birthday singing, or your jokes. Anyone who knew nana knows she did everything to make everyone else laugh or smile. She was such a giving and kind soul. Whenever anyone was going through something she would always pray for others and their peace (she’s prayed for me alot she said). Hearing how happy you were on our phone calls brought me so much happiness making you happy, and to be honest it always made my day as well. 

Growing up there was nothing like having you guys with us to celebrate the holidays or sleeping down at our house to all be together. My mom and I would sleep in the pit and wake up on Christmas with you there to see what Santa brought us. There wasn’t nothing like eating my strawberries LOADED in sugar with you and grandpa, you never failed to surprise me with strawberries. Or bringing you guys biscottis with your coffee and you guys then getting me hooked on biscottis. Waking up at nana and grandpas to bagels every morning wasn’t too bad either. We were spoiled by you and grandpa not only materialistically but with affection, games, and love.

At first I was selfish and didn’t understand and just knew I needed you here with me, I now understand that you are not in pain anymore, you are up there making the angels laugh, “flapping your wings” as you told me a couple weeks prior. The angels needed your sense of humor. Rest easy to my beautiful and selfless nana. Until I hear your jokes again, see your smile again, we will all be missing you like crazy down here. I love you my guardian angel.

I want to thank you all for coming to pay your respects.

It has been a wonderful life for my wife and I from the very first moment we met at a CYO dance at the hotel Pennsylvania in NYC. 

My wife and I both believed that the blessed mother whom we both have a great devotion to, brought us together. We were also blessed with papal blessing we received on our wedding day from Pope John the XXIII, now a saint. 

My wife always had a great love for children, especially infants which is why we became foster parents of 20 infants during our time as participants of the catholic charities infant home care program. it was at this time that her caring personality became very evident by her commitment that she would always take care of the lost infant in her care.

My wife was a low key person, except when she was making a point to me. It was little known about her concern for, the less fortunate, the ill and lonely individuals by her visiting and transporting them and praying for them.

Paul's second letter to Timothy captioned read for fidelity, sums up my wife's life I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, from now on, the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge will award to me on that day. 

My wife had earned that crown.

It is only fitting that she now, be with our lord and the blessed mother, the greatest care givers.

My Nana was one of the most loving, caring and religious people I ever met. I was her first granddaughter and I like to think we were immediately connected. Growing up in Florida I remember getting so excited when Nana, Grandpa and Aunt Megan would make the long DRIVE from New Jersey to Florida to visit us. My sisters and I would anxiously await their arrival each time. I also recall all the trips to New Jersey. Seeing snow for the first time and sledding on top of pizza boxes that Nana gave us in her backyard. She loved to play Scrabble and always won! Her freezer was always stocked with every flavor of Good Humor bars and the kitchen always smelled amazing. As I got older we became pen pals through email. I would send her long emails filled with pictures of my life and she would send me news articles that somehow always related to different events or things happening in my life. She helped me through tough and difficult times by sending me emails filled with prayers, good wishes, and constant reminders that God has a plan and that we must always trust in him. I believe so much of my strong faith is because of her. She always mentioned how much she loved our emails and seeing my pictures but truthfully I needed them just as much. 

Nana, I know you are with all the angels above singing and partying right now. We often talked and emailed about our guardian angels and I know we all gained a new one. Thank you for all of your love, hugs and guidance. I will carry our conversations and your wisdom with me forever. 

Mary Fortunato

Rest in Peace to the most extraordinary nana in the entire world.  You were always my role model and will forever rest in my heart. I will never forget your kindness and will continue to follow in your footsteps. Thank you for being in my life. It’s been a blessing being around you. I remember being in North Carolina for their 50th anniversary. We stayed in a beautiful shore house right near the beach. I remember thinking to myself when I was older I wanted to have a relationship with as much love as Nana's and grandpa's with my wife. I couldn't help but feel nothing could tear this angelic couple apart. It was almost as if God had brought them together to teach us all what love really is and how we should treasure one another because we don't know how much time we have left. And although I was still young and this was just a thought, I knew it would be crucial for my marriage to love one another as if it was our last day on earth. This further proved my thought when she died as I realized we should treasure one another. I will continue to follow your message of love and kindness and will follow in your footsteps. I feel as if nothing can do justice to how amazing of a person you really were. Although she may be gone her spirit still lives on in me.

Love,

Colton

Mark and Grace Baumgarten