Antonietta (Arena) Ranieri's Obituary
Antonietta (Arena) Ranieri was born on April 16,1931 in her beloved Soverato, Italy. Her voyage to America started in 1958 on a ship, alone with her two small children to be reunited with the love of her life, Antonio. Life was hard and change even more difficult, leaving her huge loving family back in Italy. But they persevered. She worked as a seamstress for 30 years at Learbury Clothes, her home away from home. After moving around the city several times, they finally achieved the American Dream, their own home. With pride and so much delight, their family was complete when Ben, their third child was born. Life continued to improve, they prospered and worked hard together. She was the happiest when caring for and feeding the entire family, including her new Grandchildren. Sunday dinners with the whole family was the highlight of her life. We always said she had magic in her fingers because whatever she made was the best thing you ever tasted. NeNe, Mom, Antonietta, you will be missed more than you will ever know. You are our light, firecracker, and energizer bunny.
She was predeceased by her parents, Carmella and Pasquale Arena; her husband, Antonio Ranieri and brothers, Gianni and Francesco Arena.
Antonietta leaves behind her sons, Salvatore of Liverpool and Ben (Taryn) of Boston; daughter, Maria (Gary) Kassel of Syracuse; grandsons, Brian Kassel (Tucson), Anthony (Brianna) Ranieri and Massimo Ranieri; granddaughters, Kristina Kassel (Jeremy Walker), Stephanie Romagno (Vito), Diana Kassel White, and Talia Ranieri; great-grandchildren, Nicola and Teresa Romagno; her brothers, Vincenzo and Antonio Arena (Italy); sister-in-law, Serafina Battaglia; and several nieces and nephews in America and Italy.
Special thanks to her dearest friend Antonia “Signora” Vono and the staff of caring professionals at the ICU unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
A Funeral Service in celebration of Antonietta’s life will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME. Entombment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, December 7, 2018 at the funeral home, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY.
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