Obituary of Flora Carmella DiMaggio

Flora Carmella Di Maggio, 93, of Rome, passed away peacefully January 30, 2015. She was born in Rome, NY on October 11, 1921 to Joseph and Lucy (Toro) Spadafora. Her father was the publisher of "La Vita", the first Italian weekly newspaper in Upstate New York. She was predeceased by siblings, Joseph, Alfred, Clara, Foster, and is survived by her remaining sibling, Alba. Also, Flora was predeceased by her husband Fred Di Maggio who she married on April 11, 1942. Flora graduated from Rome Free Academy and was active in the Cavaliere Club. She worked in downtown retail stores before beginning her 31-year secretarial career at Rome Air Development Center (now Rome Labs), a research & development facility, on the former Griffiss Air Force base where she retired in April 1987. Not sitting still in retirement, Flora and a good friend ran the successful "Quigley's", a breakfast & luncheonette in the early 1990s on Rome's former pedestrian mall, near Fort Stanwix. She has been an active member of Rome Memorial Hospital's TWIGS Club, the Magnolia branch. She joined it in 1979, serving as its Historian, working in the snack bar and spearheading its fundraiser of the "Shopping Spree' at Gillett's Market. She was also a past president of the Rome Garden Club, a member of the Rome Friends of the Syracuse Symphony. Flora organized and promoted cultural events in the Rome area including bus trips to the Stanley Theater and performances at the Rome Community Theater. She also organized bus trips to Atlantic City for Rome seniors. She had an amazing spirit and sense of humor, dressing up on Halloween in outlandish costumes and having pillow fights with her grandchildren. She lived through the Great Depression and as a wife & mother in World War II, while her husband was fighting in Europe. Flora traveled extensively in her retirement years and enjoyed trips to Alaska, Bermuda, Italy, Ireland, and the Caribbean. She also enjoyed bowling, golf and cross country skiing. She was an avid cook, known for her numerous Italian dishes and delicious apple and berry pies. The Di Maggio family extends its heartfelt appreciation to the 7 caregivers who provided Flora with loving around the clock care over the past nearly three years. We also thank Hospice & Palliative Care for its supportive services in the final stages of her life. Flora is survived by her son, Fernando (Fred) Di Maggio and his wife, Sheila, son David Di Maggio and his wife, Becky and grandchildren Benjamin (Xanthra), Daniel, Megan, Derek and Erin and great grandchildren Lucia, Eliza and Jacob. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:15 AM from the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street, and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at the Church of St. John the Baptist, with Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio, officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home, Tuesday 5 to 8 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Magnolia Twig, of the Rome Memorial Hospital Twigs.