Obituary of Grace Castellano

GRACE CARRARA CASTELLANO Grace was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 18, 1925 to Providenza Pesco and Italian-born Ignazio Carrara. The oldest of three children, she was instilled by her father with the importance of education and the need of women to be self-reliant and not dependent on a husband. From a local public school, she went to Boody Junior High School and then to Lafayette High School. In 1948, she graduated from St. John's School of Pharmacy. As a pharmacist, she worked for the City of New York at Riker's Island and later at the office of the Hospital Department where she ordered needed prescription items. She retired in 1964 with the birth of her first born. In 1970, she worked part-time at a Brooklyn pharmacy, and in 1973 became a full-time pharmacist at South Beach Psychiatric Center. She retired at age 67. In 1960, she married Eugene J. Castellano and they purchased a home in Brooklyn in 1968. In 1972, they moved into a Staten Island home especially built for them on Thurston Street. On September 19, 2010, Grace and her husband celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Café del Mondo, in Staten Island. Present among the guests were daughter Judith Paris with husband Chris and sons Matthew and Nicholas; and daughter Joyce Bigelow and children Brianna and Gavin. Grace always placed her children and her husband before herself. While her husband took part in marathons and other races, as well as in swim meets, she was content to remain at home with her daughters. Once her daughters were out of the household at college, Grace then traveled with her husband to his sporting events. 2010 E.J.C. Grace was preceded in death by her parents, brother Carmine, and husband, Eugene J. Castellano. She is survived by her loving family: daughter Judith Paris, son-in-law Christopher Paris, daughter Joyce Bigelow, son-in-law John Mezzetta, grandchildren, Matthew, Brianna, Nicholas and Gavin, sister Enza Caputo and sister-in-law Eleanor Castellano. Grace was 94 years old.