Rita Mae Gagliano

Rita Mae Gagliano, nee DiMeo
Beloved wife of the late John Gagliano; Devoted mother of Nicoline (John) Calandra, Cheryl (Chuck) Barone and Joan (William) Durante; Loving daughter of the late Nicholas and Theresa DiMeo; Dear sister of the late Joseph (Jeanette) DiMeo and the late Bernard (late Dolly) DiMeo; Cherished grandmother of Christopher (Patrizia) Barone, Caryn (Evan) Atwood, Terese Nicole Calandra (Jason) Seldomridge, Erica (Joseph) Palermo, Kelly (Daniel Ziegler) Durante and Nicole Durante; Fond great grandmother of Arianna and Mikayla Barone, Dominic and Lucas Atwood, Juliana and Mia Palermo; Dear aunt of many nieces and nephews.
On February 15, 2024, our Lord called home his devoted servant and our family matriarch, Rita Mae Gagliano, after a brief illness. She married the love of her life on September 15 th , 1951. Not only did they raise three girls together, Nikki (John) Calandra, Cheryl (Chuck) Barone, and Joan (William) Durante; but together they owned several thriving businesses, Four Star Masonry and Chris Construction, named after their first-born grandchild, Christopher Barone. She was not only the bookkeeper; but she was one tough cookie, who as a female in the 1970s, ran a construction business in a field dominated by men. After the passing of John in 1991, she managed several construction offices; but her passion became her ministries at St. Walter Catholic Church, in Roselle. There she became a Eucharist Minister, a Minister of Care bringing communion to the sick, and an original member of the St. Walter Bereavement Ministry. For many years, she and her childhood friend “Babe” organized and worked tirelessly on the St. Walter St. Joseph’s Table Committee, which helped raise funds for many families in need. At St. Walter, she formed many life-long friendships with fellow parishioners, including the late Father “Mac” McDonald. In addition to those ministries, she later became involved with St. Vincent DePaul. She spent many years as an active member of St. Vincent DePaul, including several years as the President. Her faith in God was her strength in both the good times and the bad, and she truly lived a Christian life. Her warm smile and no-nonsense attitude will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all who knew her, especially her sister-in-law, Jeanette DiMeo. Her greatest joy, however, was her family: her daughters and son-in-laws; her grandchildren, Christopher (Patrizia) Barone; Therese (Jason) Seldomridge; Caryn (Evan) Atwood; Erica (Joseph) Palermo; Kelly Durante (Daniel Ziegler); and Nicole Durante. What brought her even more joy were her great-grandchildren: Arianna and Mikayla Barone, Dominic and Lucas Atwood, and Juliana and Mia Sofia Palermo. Until the very end, her sharp mind knew every aspect of each one of their lives. Nothing happened in HER family that she wasn’t aware of. Our hearts are broken, but she is finally reunited with the love of her life and all of her loved ones who have predeceased her. May she rest in eternal peace. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Vincent DePaul, St. Walter Catholic Church, Roselle, in her honor. For anyone unable to attend who would like to view the mass, it will be livestreamed from St. Walter Church Roselle on YouTube at 10 a.m. CST, Saturday, February 17, 2024.