Natalina Circelli (nee Apicella), born December 25, 1935, in San Bartolomeo in Galdo, Italy, passed away peacefully in New Rochelle, New York on March 17, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones.
Natalina was predeceased by her beloved husband, Giuseppe Circelli (1998). She is survived by her three sons, Daniel (Diane), Anthony (Nancy), and Joseph (Deborah); eight grandchildren, Michael (Sara) Circelli, Lauren (David) Doria, Bryan (Lisa) Circelli, Kimberly (Alan) Martinez, Anthony (Isabella) Circelli, Jason Circelli, Joseph Circelli, and Dana Circelli; and seven great-grandchildren, Jackson, Leo, Kaylee, David, Charlie, Jayce, and Jayden. She is also survived by her sister in New Rochelle, Maria Apicella, whose company she enjoyed nearly every day since their childhood. And sister Lucia Perna in Australia including many nieces and nephews.
Natalina emigrated from Italy in October 1960 with her husband and two eldest sons, Daniel and Anthony, and they began building their life in Union Township, New Jersey. In 1962, Natalina and Giuseppe moved to New Rochelle, New York, where their third son, Joseph, was born in 1966. In Natalina’s early years, she was a loving stay-at-home mom and also worked from home as a seamstress.
Fiercely independent, Natalina took great pride in her role as the Circelli matriarch and adoring Nonna to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the years before the pandemic, she would gather the family and host dinners every Sunday. From calamari to pizza, lasagna to fennel pretzels, each dish was homemade and seemingly bottomless as Natalina spent the entire day on her feet, cooking and making her loved ones just one more plate of food. She especially loved Christmas Eve, when her sons and their families came together for the Festa dei Sette Pesci, or the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Natalina was warm and welcoming, maintaining a thoughtful and caring demeanor to the end. She always took an interest in the lives of her loved ones and sharing stories, often effortlessly transitioning between Italian and English. Natalina’s passing leaves behind a void in the Circelli family, and she will certainly be remembered and missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know her.
Natalina’s service will be at Sisto & Paino Funeral Home 16 Shea Pl, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Monday March 20, 2023, 4-8pm
Funeral Mass Tuesday March 21, 2023 at 10:00am at Holy Name Church
Interment Beechwoods Cemetery
Please send donations, in lieu of flowers, to either:
The Human Society of Westchester – https://humanesocietyofwestchester.org/donate-now/
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – https://alzfdn.org/
Hillside Food Outreach – https://hillsidefoodoutreach.org/
