Carmela Sabia

Carmela Sabia (née Colangelo) passed away July 12, 2021 after a short illness. She was 93. She was born in New Rochelle, NY on September 5, 1927 to the late Beradino and Margaret Lorusso Colangelo. She was one of six children who grew up on the same street as several of her cousins. After attending schools in New Rochelle, she worked at a factory making lampshades. She was a talented seamstress who, like her mother, made a lot of her own clothes. In 1947 she met Frank Sabia. They were introduced to one another at the wedding of Carmela’s cousin and Frank’s sister. They later married on September 11, 1949, and moved to Stamford, CT. She loved “going for a drive” almost every evening with Frank. Over the years they enjoyed going on a cruise and traveling to Puerto Rico and Hawaii. They were also able to experience Disney World with their grandchildren. They were happily married for 64 years. Together they had two children, Lucille and Salvatore. As a family they enjoyed vacationing with their cousins in Saratoga Springs, NY. Those trips included many days spent at Brown’s Beach. When her children finished elementary school Carmela began working at Caldor in Stamford. She worked in the Domestics department for 30 years. Carmela enjoyed cooking and baking. She was famous for her stuffed shells and tomato sauce. Her icebox cakes and chocolate pies were very popular with all of her grandchildren. At Easter, Carmela always made wheat pies which she shared with friends and family. And no family gathering was complete without her anisette cookies. She was grandmother to ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Carmela took great pride in them and loved going to see them at their sporting events, concerts and plays. She enjoyed crochet and made blankets for the new babies in the family tree. Carmela was the most loving mother to her children, the sweetest Aunt Mimi to her many nieces and nephews, and the most caring grandmother that anyone could ask for. She will be remembered for her generosity and concern for everyone. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Lucille Merry and husband Richard of Poughkeepsie, NY and son Salvatore Sabia and wife Elizabeth of Greenwich. Her sister Anna Tobin and brother James Colangelo. Her grandchildren: Meghan Merry and husband Jason Curran, Katherine Merry, Richard Merry, Elizabeth Merry and husband Anthony Leiner, Frank Sabia and wife Laura, James Sabia and wife Lisa, Erica Sabia and fiance Steven Zaccagnini, Ashley Sabia, Salvatore Sabia Jr., and Daniel Sabia. Her great-grandchildren: James Jr. and Bella Sabia, Shay Zaccagnini, and Bernard Sabia. She was predeceased by her husband Frank Sabia, sister Rose Sabia and brother-in-law James Sabia, sister Marie Freda, brother Anthony Colangelo and sister-in-law Dora Colangelo, sister-in-law Louise Colangelo and brother-in-law Raymond Tobin. Visitation will be on Friday, July 23rd from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Msgr. John Sabia on Saturday, July 24th at 9:30am at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, with burial to follow at St. John's Cemetery, Darien, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carmela’s name to Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT or Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org/donate.