Rose (Carbone) Gamello

Rose (Carbone) Gamello, 108, of North Utica, the matriarch of our family, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, in the comfort of her home, with her family by her side.

She was born in Utica, December 4, 1912, a daughter of Dominick and Marianna (DeSantis) Carbone.  Her father died when she was 6, her mother remarried, and she was raised by her mother and step-father, Joseph Greco. She went to Wetmore School, and although she only had an elementary education, she had a strong work ethic, unyielding determination, and was a woman of great integrity. She worked in the Oneita Knitting Mill, as a teenager, and her family’s business Beech Grove Dairy.

Rose married Ralph Gamello on November 4, 1933, in St Anthony’s Church, a blessed union that lasted 72 years, until his passing in 2005.  Together they owned and operated Ralph’s Dairy Bar, on Liberty Street, from 1945 until their retirement in 1983.  Rose was an amazing cook and even after working all week in the restaurant would spend her weekends cooking an Italian feast for her family.  Everything was made with love.  If you were lucky, you tasted one of her many holiday favorites like her cappelletti, pizza rustica, cassata, cecciarelli or cuccidati.  If it was your birthday she would make one of her famous sponge cakes filled with custard and fruit and topped with whipped cream. Besides cooking, she loved playing canasta with the girls in her card club, and in later years played card games and checkers with her great grandchildren. She and Ralph enjoyed their trips to the Bahamas and Florida, for his skeet competitions and at their condo in Miami, where they would spend some of the winter months.  Rose relaxed by knitting and crocheting, mostly afghans, for all her family, so no one would ever be cold.  She attributed her longevity to God’s will, hard work, a lot of garlic and olive oil, and a little scotch.

As a devout Catholic, she said the Rosary every day until her very last. Her faith was the guiding force in her life and she was proud to be a parishioner of St Anthony’s Church, where she loved attending mass and the feasts of St. Anthony and Sts. Cosmas and Damian.  Above all she loved her family and her many close friends that were like family. La famiglia e tutto!

Rose is survived by her cherished daughters, Marion Fontaine, of Utica and Marjorie and Dr. Anthony Dardano, of Boca Raton, FL; grandchildren, Carla and Mark Kloster, of Marcy, Colette and Steven Connolly, of East Greenbush, Dr. Anthony Dardano and Gina Santosuosso, of Boca Raton, FL, and Kathryn Dardano-Castello and Ralph Perfetto, of Boca Raton, FL; great-grandchildren, Anthony (fiancée Yuliana Paucar), Joseph and Matthew Dardano, Nicholas and Christopher Castello, Thomas Kloster and Eva Connolly;  in-laws, Samuel Gamello, Guy and Enda Gamello, Rose Heintz, and Betty Gamello. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, especially acknowledging Don and Edie Carbone, Al and Joan Carbone, Vincenza Casatelli, Nancy and Ron Daubert, and god-daughter, Palma Malta, all who did so much for Rose.  In addition to her beloved Ralph, Rose was predeceased by her siblings, Joe and Inez Carbone, Angelo and Victoria Carbone, Alessandrina Carbone, and Nancy and Peter Casatelli; her son-in-law, Gerald Fontaine; and many in-laws, step-siblings, nieces and nephews, including Albert Casatelli and Betty Jane Roemer, with whom she shared a special bond. 

Rose was able to spend the last years of her life in the comfort of her home of 67 years thanks to the wonderful care she received from Fredricka Anderson and Nema Gordon.  They were by her side day and night, caring for her every need.  Thank you!  The kindness, love and compassion you showed Rose will never be forgotten.

Her funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church. The church is at limited capacity. Please come a little early to register for Covid tracing; masks covering the nose and mouth, as well as, social distancing will be required. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of floral offerings, donations may be made in Rose’s memory to St. Anthony and St. Agnes Church, Utica.

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