Obituary of Filomena A. Gallo

FILOMENA (Fay) GALLO left this world peacefully on January 24 surrounded by the light and love of the God she so worshipped in life.  The first of five children, she was born in the Bronx to Frank and Laura (Miele) Gallo and predeceased in 1935 by her 2-year-old sister Gloria Marie and by her beloved brother Joe, tragically killed in a car accident at 26.

Fay grew up in Hoboken where her father owned a grocery store and was a graduate of A.J. Demarest High School before moving to Weehawken and then Palisades Park until her retirement to Singer Island, Fl in 1994. She worked in the entertainment industry most of her career, her longest and most rewarding years with RCA Records in NYC. She loved sharing stories of the era of Elvis Presley and Perry Como and the thrill of attending Elvis’ first recording session and the years of interacting with recording, television, and theatre talent.

Retirement to a warmer climate beckoned in 1994 and her dream of living on the beach became a reality. She found peace in the solitude of walking the beach, her prayer time, collecting sea glass for her craft projects, and just enjoying the beauty of the everchanging ocean.  The area offered cultural opportunities and classes which she pursued, and her untapped artistic talent amazed those who marveled in her paintings. She’d set up her easel on the terrace overlooking the ocean and was in 7^th Heaven! Volunteer work through her church packing groceries for the local food bank gave her a sense of purpose as did her years in NJ volunteering at the annual Leonia Health Fair.

Fay had a quick wit, was an avid reader, smart, always current, a dog lover, enjoyed theatre, opera, travel, a good meal and glass of wine and took pride in her Italian heritage.  Most of all she loved her family and the friendships she worked hard to nurture throughout her life. She was known by many names through the years…. Filomena, Fanny, Phyl, Fay, Filomeena, Filo.  She responded to all except “don’t call me Fanny!”

She lived her long, full life in faith and with dignity, grace, sincerity, gratitude, resilience, and joy. She is survived by her beloved sister Gloria who lovingly cared for her and whose lives were intimately intertwined, Gloria describing her sister as her second mother, big sister and best friend all rolled into one. She is also survived by her brother Pat and wife Grace and their children Laura Gallo, Andrew Gallo, and Daniela McGrath, her loving Argentinian cousins, godchildren and all whose lives she touched. She will be missed but we will take the best of the best of all she represented and live our best lives to honor her memory. May she rest in God’s heavenly presence until we meet again.

The family will recieve their friends on Tuesday from 3-7 pm at the Frank Patti and Kenneth Mikatarain Funeral Home 327 Main Street Fort Lee, NJ.  The funeral will leave on Wednesday at 9:30 am for the celebration of her funeral mass in St. Michael's RC Church Palisdades Park at 10 am.   In Lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Franciscan Bread for the Poor, 144 W. 32nd St., NY, NY 10001-3202.  For further information call (201) 944-0100.