Obituary of Antoinette Anita Semo

Semo, Antoinette Anita (nee Calafiore), was born to her parents Joseph and Margaret Calafiore on February 7, 1929 in Paterson, New Jersey. Mom's brother, Salvatore, "Sam", was born May 19, 1940. She was like a second mother to Sam, his protector and mentor. They loved each other dearly until he passed away in 2010.

Our Mom attended Paterson Schools and graduated from Eastside High School. Her purpose in life was always to help those in need physically and help them heal. As a means to that end she entered Training at Saint Joseph Hospital Nursing School. As a student nurse, she took classes during the day, worked 3:00 to 11:00 every evening and studied furiously somewhere in between. That rigorous schedule provided her with the fortitude and discipline she needed to achieve her life's ambition of becoming a nurse. Upon graduating from Saint Joseph Hospital Nursing School and passing state evaluations, she becomes a Registered Nurse. An exceptionally diligent and caring nurse, her competence and care gained her promotion to Head Nurse of one of the medical/surgical floors at the Paterson General Hospital.

During her time at Saint Joesph's Nursing School, she met the love of her life, Carmen Semo. Their first date was December 19th. Every year thereafter, he brought her a yellow rose to remember that day. Every night for three years during their engagement, Carmen would wait at the Emergency room door at 11:00 pm with a hot roast beef sandwich and a hot chocolate… just the beautiful, thoughtful kind of guy he was! They were married on January 28, 1951 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Paterson.

Anita and Carmen had two beautiful children, Marlene and Bobby. As time passed, Mom and Dad saved enough to build a beautiful, loving home on Chamberlain Avenue in Paterson. Our home was a house of love, understanding, faith and joy.

Our family vacation was our favorite time of the year. We all couldn't wait to 'hit' the Garden State Parkway and count the mile markers all the way to Wildwood! (Well, maybe Mom and Dad weren't crazy about the mile marker thing.) To this day, our Mom would love to sit on her ocean front balcony, watch the waves roll in and listen to the seagulls. She also loved it because her "little family" was all together with her "down the shore".

Our Dad worked at the Paterson Evening News while our Mom loved and nurtured us at home until we were middle-schoolers. Mom was then hired By the Paterson Board of Education where she served the Children of Paterson as a School Nurse for 30 years. During that time she studies part time at Jersey City State College and earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Health Education. Our Mom retired to care for our Dad until his death in January 1997.

After our Dad passed away, Mom moved from the beloved home, that she and our Dad build with love, to her condo in Little Falls. Once there she, again, filled her home with unconditional love and joy. Living there she enjoyed spending time with her condo friends as well as with her senior citizen group friends, going on trips, going to dinners and going to Broadway shows.

Most of all our Mom loved being with her family. Nothing made her happier than to have her family; Bobby, Marlene, daughter-in-law, Joellen, grandchildren Joey and his wife Amanda, Nick, and Andrew around her…. And now with her beautiful great-grandchildren, Ariana and Leah Jane!!!!

Our Mom always put her family first…. Always! Her example of love and sacrifice for her family was the greatest lesson she taught us.

We love you so much Mom. We know that all of your tremendous suffering is finally over. We know that when Jesus saw you coming home He smiled, wrapped his beautiful arms around you and walked you into Paradise…. Where Daddy was waiting for you with a hot roast beef sandwich, a hot chocolate and a yellow rose.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa, on Monday at 9:30 AM. Funeral Mass to follow at St. Gerard RC Church, Paterson at 10:00 AM. Entombment at Laurel Grove Mausoleum, Totowa. Friends may visit Sunday from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. In memory of Antoinette, donations to St. Gerard RC Church and/or The New Jersey Choral Society, would be appreciated. For more information, go to www.festamemorial.com.