In Loving Memory of Carmela Contro

July 12, 1939 – August 28, 2026

Carmela was born and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of James Savino and Eleanor Juliano. A proud South Philly girl through and through, she carried with her throughout her life a deep love of family, friendship, music, dancing, celebrations, and, of course, the Mummers.

Carmela attended St. Maria Goretti High School. After graduating, she began her career in department management at John Wanamaker. Shortly thereafter, she met the love of her life, Robert, who would become her beloved husband of 65 years.

Together, Carmela and Robert built a beautiful life centered on what mattered most to them: family. They raised four daughters and called many places home over the years, from Philadelphia to California and back again. Wherever life took them, they made a home and filled it with memories.

Carmela and Robert loved traveling together. Whether taking road trips across the country, enjoying cruises to Aruba, or traveling the world, Carmela was always ready for an adventure - and always ready with her camera. A talented and passionate photographer, she loved capturing the people, places, and moments that made life special. At home, she and Robert shared a love of classic movies and built an impressive collection together.

Carmela was a fantastic cook and baker and truly one heck of a hostess. She loved entertaining and could turn almost any occasion into a celebration. Her daughters will always remember the many demonstration parties she hosted and the way their home seemed to be filled with people, food, laughter, and fun. Carmela knew how to make everyone feel welcome.

When raising her girls, Carmela was always present. She was the PTA mom, lunch lady, troop leader, church volunteer, camp counselor, and whatever else was needed. There was never an event she wanted to miss and rarely an activity she wasn't somehow involved in. If her girls were there, Carmela was there.

That devotion only grew as her family did

Carmela was a constant presence in the lives of her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Together, she and Robert showed up for everything - school events, shows, graduations, proms, games, practices, sports, musicals, birthdays, holidays, and countless other milestones. Big or small, if it mattered to someone she loved, it mattered to Carmela.

Her career path was as varied and colorful as she was. Over the years, she worked as a manager, teacher, nanny, hostess, and salesperson. Among the roles that brought her the greatest joy was hosting jewelry parties and sales events featuring the beautiful jewelry her husband created. Carmela was an amazing saleswoman and was tremendously proud of Robert and his work. She loved sharing his creations with others - and she certainly loved wearing them herself.

Because Carmela was, without question, the fashionista.

She loved getting dressed from head to toe. No outfit was complete without beautiful jewelry, the perfect shoes, perhaps a fabulous hat, and, of course, beautiful lipstick. Her outfits were often planned and perfectly curated days before an event. Carmela didn't simply get dressed - she made an entrance.

And she was always ready to go.

You could practically wake her in the middle of the night and say, "Come on, Ma, we're going," and she wouldn't ask where. She would simply get herself ready and go wherever the adventure took her.

Carmela rarely said no to an outing, a trip, dinner out, a party, or an opportunity to be with the people she loved. She loved to dance and sing. She loved parades and the Mummers. She loved traveling, taking photographs, getting dressed up, going out to eat, and simply being part of whatever was happening.

She never wanted to miss a thing.

Friendship was another great treasure in Carmela's life. She loved her friends dearly and was blessed with friendships that spanned decades. She also loved spending time with all her cousins.

For 53 years, she shared a particularly special friendship with her best friend, Cathy. Together, they were members of the Red Hat Society - and they certainly lived up to everything that came with it. Two peas in a pod, Carmela and Cathy shared countless adventures, outings, laughs, and wonderful memories throughout their years together.

She also treasured her lifelong childhood friends, Geraldine and the recently predeceased Eleanor. Later in life, Carmela found another dear friend in Roberta, with whom she spent nearly every day. Her friendships meant the world to her.

In her later years, Carmela made her home in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, where she became an active member of the community and the Senior Center. True to form, she participated in as much as she possibly could and made wonderful friendships along the way. Carmela never wanted to miss anything - and, more often than not, she was the last one to leave.

Above everything else, however, Carmela's greatest love was her family.

Carmela was predeceased by her beloved husband of 65 years, Robert; her sister, Josephine Savino; her nephew Jeremy; her loving brother-in-law, Joseph Contro; and her beloved grandson, Eddie Holmes III.

She leaves behind her four loving daughters and sons-in-law, Renee (Larry), Desiree (John), Nicole (Riccardo), and Patrice (Ed); her grandchildren, Krista, Nicolette (James), Bernadette (Nick), Natalie (Zac), Joseph (Keely), Lucca (Makenzie), Julia (Bill), Luciana (Devon), Robert, Crissy, and Amy; and her great-grandchildren, James, John, Gavin, Everly, Remi, and Margot.

She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, as well as her dear Aunt Marie.

Carmela leaves behind far more than names on a family tree. She leaves behind a lifetime of traditions.

Family dinners and holidays will never be quite the same without Carmela and her beloved Italian cookies. Each birthday will carry the memory of her famous buttercream cake and the sound of Mom and Daddy singing "Happy Birthday" together - a tradition that made every celebration feel complete.

Her absence leaves a space in the family that can never truly be filled. Our lives are forever changed.

But Carmela will continue to be present in so many ways.

She will be there in every family recipe carefully followed and passed down. In every batch of Italian cookies. In every birthday cake. In every photograph taken to remember a special moment. In every family gathering that lasts a little longer than planned. In every beautiful outfit, fabulous hat, perfect shade of lipstick, song, dance, parade, road trip, and spontaneous adventure.

She will be there every time someone shows up simply because family needs them.

Carmela taught those she loved that life was meant to be lived - to get dressed up, go somewhere, take the picture, cook the meal, celebrate the occasion, cherish your friends, be there for your family, and never miss an opportunity to make a memory.

Those traditions will continue through her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, and friends. With every recipe we cook, every tradition we keep, and every story we tell, we will smile and remember something Carmela left within all of us:

"We all have a little Carm in us."

Your love, laughter, traditions, and beautiful spirit will remain with us always.

We love you forever.

Fly free, Little Bird.

Until we meet again.