Obituaries/Services

“I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces.” Carmela (Mildred) K. Lamanno (nee Cuzzo) was called to heaven on Sunday, October 15th, 2023 at the tender age of 105. Mildred, or “Millie” as she was known to most, was born on April 18th, 1918 to proud parents Donato and Rose. One of 7 siblings, Millie’s childhood home in Vauxhall, NJ, was always bustling with activity. At a young age, Millie was taught “giving is better than receiving,” a principle she lived her life by. She loved to retell the stories of how her family petitioned the town to use a small patch of land to grow fruits and vegetables, which they regularly donated to needy members of their community. Millie often joked that they were eating “organic” long before it was trendy and often said this was the key to her longevity.

The first in her family to graduate high school, Millie always had a strong work ethic. From her days as a billing typist to trying her hand at entrepreneurship when she and husband opened Michael’s Bar & Grill, Millie never shied away from hard work. But, make no mistake, Millie knew how to have a good time. Always the life of the party, you would often find her trotting around the dance floor. There was only one problem: few could keep up with her! That was until she met her match, Michael Lamanno, at a local dance in Brooklyn, NY. He swept her off her feet, as they danced the Peabody together and the rest was history. It wasn’t long before this Jersey girl crossed the bridge and made NY her home. The happy couple wed on October 31, 1943 after Michael (“Wimpy”) returned home from the army. Michael and Mildred shared the dance floor for the final time when friends and family gathered to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, just a few short months before Michael passed away in March of 1994.

Mildred called Park Slope home for over 75 years. After purchasing their brownstone in 1947, she and Michael would soon welcome their daughter, Joann and several years later their son, Michael Jr. If the walls of her home could talk, they would be filled with countless stories of her siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends who were always welcome to a seat at Millie's table (or tables as company would often overflow into the living room!). Millie or “Grandma Millie" as she was affectionately known by many, would often proclaim “everyone knows Millie” and this was no exaggeration. A staple in her Brooklyn neighborhood, you might find Millie helping at the Bingo Hall or at Our Lady of Peace Church, where her family always participated in the Feast of St. Anthony commemoration each year. You might also see her friendly face at the information desk of Methodist Hospital, where she volunteered for 16 years and made life-long friends. As the years went by, Millie would often spend time sitting on her stoop with her children or grandchildren. The same stoop you would find her on the first Sunday of June for the annual Garfield Boy’s stickball game. It didn’t matter that most of these “boys” were married grown men with children (and grandchildren) of their own. They always paid tribute to their honorary mama with a toast and a taste of her famous eggplant parmigiana or crumb cake.

Some might wonder where Millie found all of her energy and strength (have you ever received one of her neck massages?!). She kept busy with hobbies like crafting, bowling and later in life traveling the world with her closest friends, “the golden girls.” Millie proudly rooted for her New York METS and was rewarded for her loyalty when she and her friends were personally invited to tour CitiField. This heartwarming experience was captured on film by the New York Post and has been viewed online thousands of times! Millie was an avid story-teller and would revel at the chance to retell a story to any new folks that crossed her path. Like how on 9/11 she was working only a few blocks from the World Trade Center. At 83 years old, she fled NYC by walking over the Brooklyn Bridge with some coworkers and strangers. In true Millie fashion, she stopped to pick up some fresh bread and invited friends, old and new, to her home for a meal and good company! But, perhaps the stories she loved to share most were those of her ever-growing family. Granny, as her grandchildren called her, would love to boast about her grandkids. At every party, she was often the most sought-after dancing partner, with their teenage friends often marveling at her energy and moves! When Millie became a great-grandmother and eventually a great-great grandmother, you could find her cheering at their school or sporting events. When their “GiGi” turned 100, her great-grandkids presented her with roses before taking a spin with her across the dancefloor. And when her growing family gathered for a family photo, Millie sat proudly in the center, flashing her trademark thumbs up for the camera as if to say “I’ve done good!.” As a member of what many historians often call the “Greatest Generation,” it’s fair to say Mildred was more than good, she was great!

It is hard to capture 105 years of love, life and laughter; The loss of our beloved matriarch is felt deeply by so many. Mildred leaves behind her devoted children, Joann (Ciro Diaco) and Michael (Joanne Lamanno), grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all of whom will keep her memory alive by sharing her stories and carrying on the traditions of her incredible life. Until we meet again, “there are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in memory of Carmela (Mildred) Lamanno.