SCOTIA- On November 5, 2018, Nellie Aragona, 88, passed away at Ellis Hospital with her loving family by her side.
Born Aniella Dandreano on July 30, 1930 in Amsterdam, NY, to the late Luigi and Orsolina (Tambasco) Dandreano she was always known as Nellie to her family and friends. Raised in Amsterdam, she was a 1948 graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School. On October 26, 1958, she married Tony “Skinny” Aragona and they had just celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Nellie was a very hard working, kind, loving, self-sacrificing and quiet lady. She and Tony worked hard together to make a wonderful life for their family, raising them and residing in Schenectady for over 50 years before “downsizing” to their little home in Scotia. She retired from the Canteen Corporation in 1996 with over 20 years of service. However, to her, the most important job she held was wife, mother and Grammy. Her family was her life and she was happiest surrounded by her children and grandchildren at Sunday dinners and holidays. Nellie was a 60 year parishioner of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church and enjoyed working many Festa’s, Bake Sales and Bingo games.
A terrific cook, she also enjoyed shopping with her sisters, doing word search puzzles, using her iPad for Facebook or games and playing the slot machines at local casinos with her daughter and sister-in-law.
In addition to her loving husband Tony, Nellie is survived by her devoted children, Ursula and her husband Jeff LeGere and Anthony and his wife Heather Aragona; cherished grandchildren, Matthew LeGere, Christian and Aniella Aragona. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Sarah Dandreano and a special cousin, Frances Greco as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents, Nellie was predeceased by her beloved sisters, Jennie Zumbolo (Tony), Ethel “Babe” Poremba (Frank) and Marie DeSieno (Sonny) and her brothers, Anthony “Hank” Dandreano and Vito Dandreano and her godson, Louis DeSieno, III.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony’s Church on Saturday at 11 am. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery
There will be a calling hour at Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union St. on Saturday from 9 to 10:30 am.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Nellie’s name to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or St. Anthony’s Church.