Henrietta "Hank" Chimento

Henrietta Rosalie Ferraro Chimento, lovingly known as Roomie, Mom, Hank, Grandma and Nanny, was joyfully reunited with the love of her life and husband of fifty years, Joseph Samuel Chimento, and her beloved family that pre-deceased her: Enrico Ferraro (Father), Michelina Elari Ferraro (Mother), Thomas “Tom” Ferraro (Brother), Justina “Jessie” Agoglia (Sister) and Rosalie “Rosie” Sottile (Sister) on December 13, 2017. Hank is survived and will be forever missed by her six adoring children: Joseph H. Chimento (Leone), James M. “Jimmy/MSJ” Chimento (Sheila), Henry T. “H” Chimento (Kate), Judie A. Critchley (Bill), Debra J. “Debbie” Tucci (Gary) and Michael P. Chimento (Susan); her fifteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and five (and a half) great-great grandchildren. Yes we know all of their names, but we're not going to put you through that...

Hank lived a long, beautiful, adventurous life, full of many accomplishments and wonderful stories. Born in New York, NY, she lived there, surrounded by family and friends, for her entire childhood. She met the love of her life, Joe Chimento, at a very young age and they were married in 1942. From New York, they traveled and lived in many different states, all “east of the Mississippi,” following Joe’s assignments with the Air Force. While raising a family and moving around the country, she discovered a love of golf and volunteering, which she carried with her for the rest of her life.

When Joe retired in 1965 and joined the State Department Foreign Service/USAID, the family relocated to Manila, Philippines, to be closer to his station in Saigon. While living in Manila, her golf skills improved, allowing her the chance to play with the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, which was one of her fondest memories. She made several visits to Saigon and was present for the January, 1968 TET Offensive, which rocked the entire family’s life.

The family returned stateside in 1971 to set up home in Alexandria and Annandale, VA. Joe was then transferred to Jordan and they visited many countries in their four years there. Some of the places she enjoyed the most were Jerusalem, Petra, Beirut, and Damascus.

After Joe retired in 1980, they settled in Orlando, FL, in what is now, and will always be known as, “Nanny’s House” – a place filled with love, laughter, and many memories.

The two of them spent the 80’s and 90’s continuing to travel the world, including Vegas, Italy, Sicily, Australia, the Ivory Coast, and many more European Countries. After Joe passed away in 1992, she kept her love for travel alive, visiting Alaska, Vegas, the Panama Canal, Vegas, her grandchildren all over the country… and did we mention Vegas?

In the midst of all the traveling, gambling, visiting family and making memories, she always found a way to give to others through volunteering. Beginning as a blood bank volunteer at the American Red Cross in Mobile, AL, to rocking babies in the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, to sewing 8,000 “comfort pillows” for the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, she logged over 20,000 hours in service to others.

She will be remembered by all who knew her as a bright, feisty, spirited woman who enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends, baking, sewing, scratching off lotto tickets, and of course, watching Notre Dame Football!

Her star will always be the brightest in the heavens and her spirit will always be with us.

(And also with you, Amen)