Obituary of DOROTHY A. CASTIONI

Dorothy Castioni

September 3, 1928 – March 3, 2021

Dorothy Castioni, age 92, passed away on March 3, 2021 after a brief illness. Her final days were spent at Good Shepherd Hospice where she was surrounded with love and tender care. 

Dorothy was born in Bellevue Hospital in New York City on September 3, 1928. She spent most of her childhood in Brooklyn where she shared a brownstone with her mother Anna, sister Catherine and extended Irish Catholic family. Although Dorothy’s childhood spanned the Great Depression and World War II, difficult times for our country, she had a happy, optimistic personality and had many fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn. She recalled going to Coney Island and riding the Cyclone rollercoaster, watching movie serials and newsreels at her local movie theater, and meeting her childhood matinee idol, Roddy McDowall, when he appeared at her elementary school with his mother on behalf of the war bond effort. She and her sister collected newspapers and metal cans for the war effort. She was a huge Brooklyn Dodgers fan and as a teenager attended many games at Ebbets Field where she and her girlfriends sat behind the dugout, chatting, and taking photographs with the players especially her favorite, Carl Furillo. She saw Frank Sinatra perform at the Paramount when he was a young singer and was a devotee of Big Band music and singers from the 40’s and 50’s especially, Vic Damone, Tony Bennett, and Mario Lanza.

She was introduced to her future husband, Robert Castioni, by mutual friends at Pete’s Tavern in Manhattan. They hit it off, married in 1955 and had five children. Marrying into an Italian American family put the pressure on in terms of cooking skills and Dorothy rose to the challenge. Her children remember her delicious dishes such as Risotto Milanese and Beef Braciole. Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother. She was selfless and always put her family’s well-being above her own. Dorothy and Robert were married for 54 years. Dorothy tenderly cared for Robert through his last illness and was by his side at his passing in 2009. In her later years, Dorothy loved going to Atlantic City and playing the slot machines, reading, solving crossword puzzles, and playing Scrabble. She was a formidable Scrabble player. 

Dorothy is survived by her five children: Robert, Richard, Craig, Charles, and Lisa; daughters in law, Karen and Margaret Mary and son in law Jay. In addition, she was blessed with seven grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Crystal, Ingrid, Laura, Jennifer, Carolyn, Elizabeth, and Robbie. Four great grandchildren animated her later years: Addison, Colin, Oliver, and Keira. 

Although her time on this earth has passed, our love for her is boundless. A bright light has been extinguished. Rest in peace our dear Mother, Grandmother, Mother-in Law and Friend.

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