Dateline: Clifton Park, NY
Vita Maria (Isopo) Serafini, age 95, passed away peacefully at home on October 28, 2022. Vita was born on October 19, 1927, in Fontechiari, Italy to Giovanni Isopo and Orazia Di Carlo. As a young girl, with her father in the US, she worked the farm and honed her pasta and cooking skills well before the age of 12.
Vita lived through difficult times, including WWII when her country was devastated, and her village and home occupied by Germans. In 1948, Vita married her childhood sweetheart Michele who lived nearby on Via Muto. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 aboard the ship, Saturnia, traveling alone with her infant daughter, Anna, to join her parents and relatives in Schenectady. In 1953, Michele was finally able to join her.
Vita began work immediately upon arrival. Her first job was at the Newberry Knitting Factory where she made gloves and slippers. She also worked at a commercial laundry, Codino’s Italian Foods and finally in housekeeping services at GE.
After retiring from GE, she gardened, tended sheep and chickens, and sought out the best ingredients. Her meals were legendary, and she provided Sunday dinner well into her 90’s for kids, grandkids, boyfriends, girlfriends, and friends of friends. She and Michele spent their summers in Fontechiari and hosted an endless number of guests. She especially loved spending evenings with paesani on the terrace surrounded by the Abruzzi mountains and cherished her time there with Maria Serafini Di Cocco who was like a daughter and dearest friend to her.
Vita is survived by her children Linda (John) McDermott, Marisa Serafini (Charlie D’Ambrosio), Toni-Jean Serafini (Mark Bethel), and Bob (Dawn) Serafini. She is beloved Nonna to Fabrizia (Nick) Renart, Michael (Val) McDermott, Alex (Amie) D’Ambrosio, Lia D’Ambrosio, Juliana (Jesse) McDermott, Leann and Christopher Serafini and bis-Nonna to Sebastian and Luca Renart, Stella and Hallie D’Ambrosio. She is survived by many dear cousins, nieces and nephews, many of whom were able to visit in her last weeks.
In addition to her parents, Vita was predeceased by her husband Michele Serafini, daughter Anna, granddaughter Michela McDermott and her brother, Mario Isopo.
Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Saturday, November 5, 2022, from 10:00am-11:45am, at St. Anthony’s Church, 331 Seward Place, Schenectady. A Mass led by Fr. Carlino will follow at 12:00 PM. Vita will be buried alongside Michele in Fontechiari, Italy in early December.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Schenectady City Mission https://citymission.com/ or Things of My Very Own https://thingsofmyveryown.org/