Carmella Mary (Dariano) Corthell

Carmella Mary Corthell, age 93, formerly of Tiffin, passed away peacefully at Eason House in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, May 14, 2020.

She was born in Tiffin on December 29, 1926 to Francisco and Maria D’Ariano, the seventh of their eleven children. After graduation from Calvert High School in 1945, she received a scholarship to study nursing at Mary Manse College in Toledo; she began her program at the college but returned to Tiffin to assist her family during her father’s illness, while her brothers, Tony and Joe, were serving overseas in the war. After her brothers returned home and Francisco died, Carmella met and was courted by Don, and they were married January 3, 1948; he preceded her in death in 2009.

Also preceding her in death were sisters Carmella (her namesake), Joan Pacifico and husband Tony, Mary Strasser and husband Tom, Rose Cool; brothers Matt  and wife Cornelia; Tony and wife Rosemary, Joe and wife Nita; and brother-in-law James “Jocko” Gaietto. She is survived by her children Ron (Laura Bartolo) of Chicago, IL; Nancy (Joel) Taylor of Petit Jean Mtn, AR; Joan (Chuck) Webster of Cleveland, OH; Beth (Felicia Sauder) of Plain City, OH; and Ann (Steve) Pamer of Medina, OH; grandchildren Austin, Tessa, Seth (fiancée Sarah Yi), Zachary (Marta Fiuza), Jennifer (Steve Janis), Sarah, Margaret (Allen Bates), Elizabeth (Corey Jordan), Matthew (fiancée Alli Staats), and Emily; great grandchildren Ruby, Sophia, Anoushka, Georgia, and Nate; sisters Helen Gaietto of Tiffin and Michelina Hoepf (Ray) of Bowling Green; brother Frank (Rita) of Tiffin; brothers-in-law Ken Corthell of Tiffin and Bob Cool of Alliance; and 46 nieces and nephews.

Carmella was a devoted wife, loving mother, brilliant homemaker, and beloved “Meraldi” to her sisters, and “Aunt Nene,” Aunt Carmie, and Aunt Carmella to her many nieces and nephews. Born and raised on Miami Street in Tiffin’s Little Italy, Carmella was profoundly influenced by this neighborhood and culture, which instilled in her a devotion to family and the Catholic faith and a deep attachment to Tiffin’s vibrant Italian-American community. Her children fondly remember the family gatherings at Grandma’s on Miami Street where they also enjoyed meeting their mother’s many Italian relatives and friends who still lived in the neighborhood. Carmella delighted her children and grandchildren by sprinkling her conversation with Italian phrases, especially when in the company of her sisters. Once her children were grown, she took a position with the Sacksteder Insurance Agency to help finance their college educations and greatly enjoyed her colleagues and work at that office. She was very active in St. Mary parish, where she taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes, distributed Communion in Church and to shut-ins as a Eucharistic Minister, served in the Altar Rosary Society and the Gray Ladies, and, with Don, brought comfort to fellow parishioners by working on the Funeral Luncheon Committee.
Carmella was tireless in her support for her children, traveling for extended visits to help her daughters and daughter-in-law after the births of her grandchildren, celebrating every milestone, affirming their decisions, and ever fervently praying for their good health and success. Extremely proud of her family, she was nonetheless a most humble and sweet-tempered person. She loved hosting and attending family gatherings; reminiscing of days gone by in Little Italy, of fun times at Meadowbrook Park where she met Don, and of the many years the family lived on Hall Street and Parkview Drive; attending Christmas Eve Midnight Mass with her sister Mary; playing cards with her “club” of old high school girlfriends; changing into “cozies” after dinner at overnight stays. Hers was a quiet, full, and beautiful life.

Carmella spent her last years in Columbus with Beth and Felicia in Plain City, and most recently at Eason House, where her caregivers were continually touched by her humble and sweet manner. Her children would like to thank all those who cared for her in those final times, especially her angels from Kindred Hospice.

A private visitation will be at Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St. Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419) 447-3113.  A private Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Friday, May 22, 2020, at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Rev. Matthew Rader officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Those who wish may view the Mass live at www.stmarychurch.com

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to St. Mary Church, 85 S Sandusky St, Tiffin, OH 44883; Sisters of St Francis, 200 St Francis Avenue, Tiffin, OH 44883; or Kindred Hospice, 540 Officecenter Place, #100, Columbus, OH 44230.

For out-of-town flower orders, to offer condolences to the family, or to view the Celebration of Life video, go to: www.traunerofuneralhome.com