Frank Gagliardi, Carolyn’s husband, had already departed this world before she died; she passed away last night. Prior to Carolyn’s departure, Frank had passed away. Her age was 98. Plus, she made it through the majority of those years—the ones where her health began to deteriorate—without passing away.
The nearby town knew Carolyn for her reputation as an accomplished artist. Her one-woman show at UW–Parkside opened a few years ago, and I was honored to be there on opening night. Being a part of it gave me a great sense of accomplishment. The reality is that I found her artwork to be really vibrant, but I was never quite able to understand her messages.
Every time something needed doing, the Gagliardis were the first to jump in and help. They were remarked upon for their eagerness to comply. They were also famous for being able to enjoy life to the fullest. A component of Carolyn’s character was Stella. Stella was the name our grandma went by.
Even when it was shown that they were unrelated, we couldn’t help but play on the idea that they might have been. Those who will miss her greatly include her loving parents, Louise and Martin Gagliardi, her brothers, Joseph and Mark, and their families, her aunts, Marie Rust Crosson of Florida and Rose Barbaro of Brooklyn, and a plethora of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends from across the globe.
Not only that, but her parents are also among the abandoned. Being a member of both the Children of Mary and St. Joseph Church meant that she was an active participant in both communities.
Millie was preceded in death by her immediate family members: her brother Joseph Monzo, Sr., her spouse Vincent L. Gagliardi, Sr., and her parents, Angelo and Josephine (née Messina) Monzo. Christopher Gagliardi of Hammonton, New Jersey, and Vincent L. Gagliardi, Jr. of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and his wife Monique are among those who are still living. On top of that, her sister Angelina Sacco and her husband Paul, her daughter JoAnn Pizzuti and her husband Robert, who live in Succasunna, New Jersey, and her sister-in-law Rosemarie Monzo.
Carolyn received her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) when she was 22 years old, and she quickly became wheelchair-bound as a result of the disease. She became deeply interested in research involving individuals with impairments as a result of this.
She was a member of several advisory bodies, including those concerned with disability-specific housing, transportation, health, and counseling. She hoped that people with disabilities would be able to keep living in their own houses and take part in all aspects of society and community life. She will be deeply missed because of how affectionate she was; she was well regarded by everyone.
