A memorial service for Norma Jean Christiano, 95, of Greenwich, Connecticut, and formerly of Southampton and Scarsdale, who died May 2, will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Leo Gallagher Funeral Home in Greenwich.
Born in the Bronx, she was the daughter of James and Anna Trapasso.
Ms. Christiano and her husband, Al Christiano, moved to Greenwich after 42 years in Scarsdale, most recently residing at The Mews. Their daughters attended the Edgemont schools. Both were longtime members of the Scarsdale Golf Club. Ms. Christiano was an active member of the Scarsdale Woman’s Club and the Factotums, volunteered at the Scarsdale Woman’s Exchange for many years, and filled her empty nest years working at her friend’s shop, Jeri’s, in Hartsdale. She had a house in Southampton, where she and her husband spent many happy times with family. She spent many winters in Scottsdale, enjoying time with family and friends. Over the years she and her husband also traveled the world with their friends.
Ms. Christiano met her husband when they both worked at Forbes magazine. They married two years later, with Mr. Christiano smitten by her big blue yes and dimpled smile, survivors said.
She was very shy as a young woman and always credited her husband with bringing her out of her shell, giving her the confidence to believe in herself. Survivors said this led to her painstakingly teaching herself to sew and to knit, eventually becoming a truly accomplished hobbyist seamstress who was able to create anything from a simple dress to a tailored coat, and to knit complex patterns of every type. She always said she regretted that she was too shy to take lessons and so had to learn it all through trial and error, but she did. With her acute eye for fashion, she always looked stylish and was always ahead of the trends, survivors said, adding that she had a creative, inventive mind, and that technology of any kind fascinated her. She had a computer in her 80s, sending emails and playing solitaire and bridge well into the night, marveling all the time at what she was able to do. She loved being with her family and friends, loved music, loved to dance, loved to entertain, was famous for inviting any and all for Christmas Eve, loved her dogs, Amy and Maggie, and had a wonderful sense of humor, survivors said.
Her husband of 69 years, Albert, died in 2012. She is survived by her three daughters, Virginia “Ginger” Sillari and husband Raymond of Scottsdale, Alice Flynn and husband Robert of Southampton, and Jane Alix and husband Bryan of Connecticut; her grandchildren, Eric, Jean, Christopher, Scott, Johanna, Abigail, Daniel and Andrew; her great-grandchildren, Emily, Michael, Samantha, Christian, Phineas, Van, Avery, Ella Rae and Florie Claire; a niece, Patrice Galterio; a nephew, Thomas Christiano; and grand-nephew, Jon Christiano. She was predeceased by her brother, Ralph.
Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA or a local animal shelter.
on Sep 7, 2015