For those who asked for the speech, here is the Eulogy I gave for my Grandmother, Carmella Esposito.
Eulogy for Carmella Esposito
June 4, 2011
St. Isadore Catholic Church
On behalf of the entire family, I want to thank everyone for coming to the funeral home and to mass today to celebrate the life of my Nani, Carmella Esposito. The stories you all shared spoke of her kindness, strength, compassion and faith. That is what we will remember most.
At the age of 16, Carmella married the love of her life, Francesco Esposito- and set about her life’s work: Cultivating a family. 65 years later, Nani showed us all what it means to be a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. To be a person of faith. To be a good woman.
Her love was as strong as her faith. My Nani’s family was everything to her.
While in the hospital, my Nani awoke from a week long medically induced coma while on the ventilator. She immediately asked the doctor for her “vitamins and antibiotics”. She asked “Why should I lay here when I can be at home. I need to take care of my husband”. My Nani always put other people first.
Just this past mother’s day, she showed us again how selfless she was. Mother’s day is a time when you treat your mom – make her feel special, take her out, pamper her. But that’s not what my Nani wanted. Sure, we offered to take her out, but she would have none of it. She told us all to be at her house at 1:00 pm – as always – for Sunday dinner. She made pasta with lamb, lamb cutlets, pasta with meatballs and sausage because the great-grandchildren would not eat lamb. She made a roasted rabbit with potatoes. Handmade sausage, soppresata, malangana, bread, cheese, peppers and olives. As always, she was the last to sit down and eat. She had very little on her plate. So we asked her if she was feeling well – why wasn’t she eating and she said “Ah, me, I no like-a dis food. Daddy, the kids, they like lamb, rabbit. Me, ah, me no lik-a dis”. And then she went upstairs, exhausted, but happy. She sat the great grand children around her and opened up her gifts. That’s the type of woman she was. Happiest when others were happy.
She was the last to eat, last to sit, first person to call you “Joy D’ Nani”.
The first person you called when you were sick. She would embrace you, welcome you, make you pastina, cha, Carm (a blessing from Calabria) you and tell you it was going to be alright.
She taught me serving God and serving your family are one in the same.
Her faith was unwavering. At 5 pm every day, she said the Rosary for each of her children. She was always praying for her family, friends, anyone who needed it. She started and ended each day in prayer.
When you came to her house, you were as full in sprit as you were physically. No one left my Nani’s house hungry. God forbid you had ate something before you came over! She’d start with a shot and beer for the boys and 7-up for the girls. Out of nowhere would come food. So much food! Pasta, sausage, cheese, bread, olives, peppers, salad… then followed by home-made s-cookies, coffee, another shot. And then, when you had eaten, she’d Carm and bless you. She made certain you wanted for nothing.
On Christmas Eve, the only time when you can say the Carm aloud, she would go from person to person, teaching you the carm and praying over you. I’ll never forget the first time I brought my husband – then my boyfriend- over for Christmas Eve. My little Nani looked up at my 6’5”, blond haired, blue eyed, clearly not Italian husband and said “You Catholic?” and he said “Yes, Nani, I’m Catholic” she nodded and said “OK” then proceeded to bless him as if he was one of the family already.
These traditions cannot – and will not die. She lives on in each of us. We are her living legacy.
She worked hard to make certain a part of her lives on in us. That goes beyond the food, baby blankets, booties and cookies she made us. It’s within us. Her love, strength, faith and courage are reflected in us.
She showed me, through herself, my parents, my aunts, my cousins, what it means to have a loving and strong family. What it means to be a good mother.
I know she wanted to be here for the birth of my child, but that was not God’s plan. She will be with me in sprit. She will guide me- as she will continue to guide all of us – from above.
We love you, Nani. We know you are with God. Rest in peace, Carmella – an incredible mother, wife, sister and friend.
); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 30px 14px;"><img src="
"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0 0 30px 0;">
</div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Stationery card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire collection of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>
){kind=link}
){kind=link}