Wilma Ann Conte, a longtime Volusia County, Florida resident, died peacefully Monday evening September 16, 2024 surrounded by family at Advent Health Fish Memorial in Orange City. Ms. Conte, a 1958 graduate of Pittsfield High School, moved to Daytona Beach from Massachusetts in 1963 with her longtime love, husband Nicholas Conte, who worked as a drafting engineer with General Electric. It was in Daytona Beach where Wilma and Nick Sr. raised their two beloved children, Nicholas and Christine Conte.
Wilma worked for several years in the Banking industry, as well as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona State College, and the City of Port Orange.
After retiring, Wilma served the community as a member, secretary, and Vice President of the GE Wives organization in Volusia County with many close friends. She also volunteered as a tutor to adults in both English and Math for the Volusia County Literary Council and served as a program assistant with Healthy Start Volusia.
Wilma was a true animal lover and lifelong cat owner, with a special gift for domesticating even the most challenging of stray cats and making them a part of her home. She was a financial supporter of numerous animal protection charities and no-kill shelters, including the Southeast Volusia Humane Society, Journey’s End animal shelter, and the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.
It was said of Wilma that “she never knew a stranger,” welcoming her children’s friends, nieces, nephews, even helpers who assisted her in later years, as true members of her extended family. Her warmth radiated to everyone in her circle and her drive to stay actively engaged in current events, pop culture, art history, binge-worthy television and science fiction were legendary to her friends and family alike.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Phyllis Spadafora of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, her brother William, and her beloved husband Nicholas H. Conte Sr. (2006). She is survived by her children, Nicholas H. Conte Jr. (Michele) and Christine Conte Cerutti (Scott), her niece Lindsey McMinn, nephew Ryan Spadafora, and by her four beloved grandchildren Chad Cerutti, Danielle Cerutti, Robert Conte, and Ainsley Conte who will miss their Nana dearly.
A viewing will be held beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 600 S. Nova Rd., Ormond Beach, FL, followed by a funeral mass celebrating Wilma’s life at 12:00 p.m. An interment and guest reception with food and refreshments will immediately follow mass at nearby Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 N. Nova Road, Ormond Beach.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Wilma’s honor to the Southeast Volusia Humane Society, 1200 S. Glencoe Rd. New Smyrna Beach. F: 32168. www.sevhumanesociety.org.
Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.mem.com.
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Southeast Volusia County Human Society
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