Carmelita C. McCabe's Obituary
Mrs. Carmelita “Carm” McCabe, 84, deeply beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed into the arms of her heavenly Father on Thursday, November 30, 2023. She had endured a long illness with great courage and when she passed, she was surrounded by the love of her family.
Born in Utica, NY on June 19, 1939, Carmelita was the daughter of the late Nicholas Cerro and Rose (Viggiano) Cerro. Raised and educated in the Utica area, she was a graduate of Utica Free Academy, class of 1957.
On November 5, 1960, she married William “Bill” J. McCabe, who was her high school sweetheart. They shared a beautiful and inseparable bond during their 63 year union. Carm worked as a secretary assistant at Roosevelt City School and as a secretary at the Utica City Bus Garage.
In 1995 Carm began working with her son David at his company “Worldwide Sport Nutrition.” In 1997 the family moved, along with the company from NY to Largo, FL. It brought Carm great pride in working with and watching her son grow his company, until it was sold in 2000. She was the epitome of the words, wife, mother and grandmother. Carm was a selfless person, who always sacrificed for her family and others. She lived by the words “It’s what we do for our family.” She was an exceptional cook and baker of Italian and Irish dishes and known for her famous lemon meringue pie.
Carm was a compassionate woman, with a heart of gold and strong family ties. A generous and loving mother, she believed her greatest legacy was her children and grandchildren. Her family will remember fondly all the cherished memories made together. The loss has touched so many lives and the hearts of countless people that Carm has encountered during her lifetime. She will be sorely missed, but her family takes comfort in the fact that she is now at peace and will be together again someday.
She was a parishioner of St. Jerome Catholic Church of Largo, FL.
Carm is survived by her treasured husband Bill; son and daughter-in-law, David and Dawn McCabe of St. Petersburg, FL; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Gino LaRusso of Gilbert, SC; her adoring grandsons who brought joy to her life, but filled their lives with an unconditional love of a lifetime, Matthew Joseph McCabe, Anthony William LaRusso and Dominic Vincent LaRusso; step-granddaughters, Samantha Manzella and Breonna LaRusso, both of FL; Janelle Skidmore of NY and sister-in-law, Janet Cerro of NY.
In everyone’s life, there are special and exceptional bonds. Carm was blessed by the love of her cherished nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins. So many beautiful friendships, especially the one shared with Angela Salerno Pardi.
Carm was preceded in death by her three brothers and sisters-in-law, Vincent “Whitey” and Agnes Cerro, Felix “Phil” and Virginia Cerro, Nicholas “Nick” Cerro; one sister, Philomena Cerro; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Patrick and Margaret McCabe; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patricia and Robert Seelman.
The family extends heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the entire staff of nurses and attending doctors, Drs. Eckerd, Gomez and Kaplan, on the 4th floor of Morton Plant Hospital and dedicated staff at Freedom Square of Seminole, FL.
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend Carmelita’s Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life, which will commence on Tuesday, December 5th, 9:30AM at The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, where her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Alex Padilla and assisting Deacon John Fox. The family will receive visitors at the conclusion of Mass. Entombment will take place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater, FL immediately following. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to express an act of kindness in Carmelita’s memory, may make a donation to The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle or a charity of choice. Envelopes available at the service.
“A mother is one who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.”
God Bless you Mom and Nonnie.
We will forever hold you close in our hearts.
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