Angelina "Angie" Lettieri

Originally from Jackson Heights, New York, she moved to South Carolina in 1987. Her parents, Enrico and Rosa Morriello were from San Gregorio Magna, Italy. Mom had two sisters, Julia and Josephine , and three brothers, Gerry, Domenic and Salvatore.

She grew up during the Depression, through difficult times, but always spoke of wonderful childhood memories. Lots of antics with her zany siblings! Her dad worked for Con Edison and her mom was a homemaker. Her grandmother, grandma ‘Re’, a young widow, also rounded out the family and was a fabulous cook!

She grew up in a home with a strong Christian influence. She attended Corona Italian Christian Church, where she met her future husband, Angelo. She was married to Angelo Lettieri, on September 25, 1948. In 1950, they had a daughter, Mary Ann, who was the center of her life,

She worked as a ‘Presser’ in the garment district, and when she did the laundry all the clothes were folded to perfection with creases in everything!

She worked for the New York City Police Department as a School Crossing Guard, in Corona, Queens.

Later she began a career with NY Telephone Company. She rose to the leadership positions quickly, managing the Forest Hills and later, the Elmhurst offices.

She retired from New York Telephone Company in her role as Group Chief, to begin a new phase of her life in SC.

She was very active in her church, and was a member of the woman’s group there. They did many good works throughout the community and hosted missionaries and guests, and were a support to those that needed help.

She had an incredible capacity to love and be compassionate to everyone she met. Her faith, family and friends were her life! She had an infections laugh and great sense of humor, and loved sharing with everyone. Her generosity, kindness and compassions were the very essence of her being.

Mom was known for hosting meals and parties. She was an incredible, gracious, hostess and loved having family and friends over. She was a fabulous cook and baker, renowned for her homemade Manicotti!

She was a modern and independent woman, full of a zest for life. She was wise and compassionate, and often counseled those in need of direction. She was a person of prayer and faith, and her faith guided all that she was.

She retired in 1987 and moved to Fort Mill, SC. to begin a new chapter in her life. Her mom , sister and life long friends also moved to the area, and had a wonderful network of family here.

She was married to my dad for nearly 70 years, and they were the cutest couple ever, always holding hands as they walked together. My dad passed on March 20, 2019, and soon after her health began to fade slowly.

She moved with her two friends- Shirley and Joan- aka ‘Squanchins’, into the Assisted Living Family, The Charlotte. They day after she moved in, Charlotte declared a Covid shut down. We were not able to visit in person, for more than a year, but she enjoyed her time with her friends of more than 75 years, since they had become friends in her church as children.

She did get through Covid, and was hospitalized for a few days. Her doctor tried to prepare me as if mom was not going to make it. However, in the next days he called and told me it was a miraculous recovery! She was up joking around with the nurses and doctors. It wasn’t her time, she had more to do.

She was very friendly and loving to the workers at her Assisted Living. When they were down she would try to comfort them and often prayed with them. She had started her own little ministry right there.

As mom’s illness progressed, she would constantly have staff come by and sing choruses with her, or play some of her favorite music. She always said ‘thank you’ for even the littlest things done for her. She was loved by so many.

More recently Mom was in Briar Creek Health Center for four months and her body was getting weaker. She had had a stroke in September of 2021, that left her difficulty in some motor functions and lost a considerable amount of sight.

Through all this she still continued to have a great sense of humor and loved to tease and laugh.

I know it was mom’s strong faith in the Lord that got her through so many difficult and tragic things in her life. She had lost hearing her right ear many years earlier, undergoing difficult Mastoid Surgery. She had severe Macular Hole in her left eye, with little sight in that eye. Even with all these adversities, she always spoke about her faith and sang praises to the Lord.

My parents' strong faith was shared with me from early childhood, and guided me throughout my life. My mom’s whole life centered around me. She made everything fun and gave me early exposure to the theatre, museum and the arts. I remember going to Broadway Plays, and every Christmas seeing Santa Claus at Macy’s on 34th St. She took me to Radio City Christmas show every year to see the Rockettes.

She was organizer of everything for the family. We all owned our own roller skates and ice skates. We would go to the Hillside Roller Rink monthly on family night ,and to the World's Fair ice skating rink and Rockefeller Center for skating .

She would pack a dinner when dad came home in the summer and we would go to Rockaway Beach. Always planning her life and activities around her family.

So those of you that know Mom well, know she had a big life, full of love and laughter. How do you put this into just a couple of pages?

This is but a glimpse into the life of a strong, beautiful and compassionate woman. She is now with our Lord, free from illness and strife and reunited with her loved ones.

Mommy, I am still your ‘Baby’, that you called me to the end, and I miss you so very much. I know I will see you again some day. Until then, you will be loved and missed every day

A celebration of her life will be held on January 7, 2022 at the McEwen Funeral Service- Pineville Chapel

Thank you for your prayers and kind words of encouragement.