Domenica "Mamie" Alonso

Domenica “Mamie” Alonso, 93, passed away on Thursday, May 27, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents, Giovanni & Giuseppa Messina Militello, sister Lily Militello McGraw, nephew Charles McGraw, nephew Johnny McGraw, niece Nancy McGraw-Allen, and beloved husband Fernando “Fred”. She is survived by children Richard Alonso (Frances) and Kathryn Richardson (David) all of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Jennifer Garcia (Willie) of Yardley, PA, Richard Alonso Jr. (Katherine) of Clearwater, FL, Yvette Ynocencio of Tampa, FL; step-grandchildren Staci Caudill and Kristina Maynard (Mike) all of Ashland, KY; great grandchildren Andrew Garcia, Gabriella Garcia, Anna Alonso, TJ Alonso. Step-great grandchildren Drake Richardson, Lacey Gehringer, Dillon Caudill, Brooklyn Gehringer, Layla Tussey, numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Mamie was born in Ybor City and proud of her Italian Sicilian heritage since her father was from Santo Stefano Quisquina and her mother from Alessandria Della Rocca. She graduated high school from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in 1946 and was a lifelong devout Catholic. Mamie and Fred were members of St. Lawrence Catholic Church faithfully attending mass every Sunday while sitting in the same pew for over thirty years as well as praying her rosary every day. Mamie and Fred were married for seventy years at the time of his passing in 2020. During their honeymoon they went to Tampa Bay Downs, a place they would visit frequently as well as Jai Lai and the Dog Track which later they enjoyed with close friends and family. Fred and Mamie went dancing every Saturday evening after having dinner at their favorite restaurant, Café Pepe’s, with Mamie beautifully dressed head to toe. The family spent countless vacations at Clearwater Beach swimming in the gulf, playing shuffleboard and tennis. Mamie enjoyed working and retired after twenty-five years as a nurse for Dr. Eugene Costantino and Dr. Joseph Emory Harlow. Mamie also loved to attend concerts and theatre performances experiencing numerous yearly “girl trips” to New York City to watch Broadway plays. She listened to all types of music from Il Vollo, to the Bee Gees, Neil Diamond, Ed Sheeran and Maroon 5. She enjoyed puzzles, crafts and sewing spending countless hours hand-beading several wedding dresses as well as making Christmas decorations, Halloween costumes and a beautiful bassinet skirt. Mamie was able to travel to Italy and Sicily several times visiting the areas in which her parents were born as well as attending an audience with the Pope at the Vatican. Her biggest joy, however, was spending time or talking on the phone with her children, grand-children and great grand-children.

The family is grateful for the support of many friends especially from C R La Mansion, Leslie Vellas, her hair stylist, who continued to style her hair weekly. A special thanks to Baycare Home Health/Homecare, Lifepath Hospice and the Melech Hospice House for their care. A Life Celebration for both Fred and Mamie will be held 6-8 pm, Thursday, June 17, 2021 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 E Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.