May 10, 1948 – February 12, 2024
Age 75
Visitation
Thursday, February 15, 2024
4pm – 9pm
Funeral Mass
Friday, February 16, 2024
11:00am
Our Lady of Good Council
68 Wanser Avenue
Inwood, New York
11096
Entombment
Holy Rood Cemetery
111 Old Country Road
Westbury, New York
11590
It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Iole Curra, 75, of Filandari Italy. She died on February 16th, 2024, in Inwood, New York.
Everyone who met Iole will not soon forget her. Whether it be for her famous meatballs and chicken cutlet, ability to bake for a wedding of 300 with one oven, or her absolutely infectious laugh, she is not so easily forgotten, to our hearts dismay.
Iole grew up in Filandari Italy, a small town where everyone was either your family, or your friends, or something in between. She was born on May 10th, 1948 to her parents who she adored, Giuseppe and Annuziata Sorrentino, and was followed by her younger sister, Lucia, who she somehow adored even more. Growing up in Calabria gave her a pension for loving the spiciest of peppers, the ability to knit or sew or crochet anything you could imagine, and an endless amount of stories of the old country that she passed down to us. It was in this small town at age 16 that she met the love of her life, Mario Curra. Despite him previously being interested in a different woman, when he met Iole he knew she was truly the one. They quickly became engaged, although she begrudgingly waited until 18 to marry her true love. Mario passed in 2010, and she missed him every day since.
At 18, Iole made the move to America for a better life, New York to be exact. Well, first she tried Winnipeg, Canada but decided the snow and gloom was not for her! The culture shock was mighty, and there were many years she wished to return home to her town, but it was the love of her husband that willed her to continue on. She soon gave birth to three children in record time, Augustino Curra, Giuseppe Curra, and Maria Curra. In New York she picked up a job sewing, one of her many skills. She was employed at Tyrone’s and was also employed at home sewing clothing for her three children, whom she didn’t mind picking up the extra shifts for. Although the three of them gave her a run for her money in their adolescence, Iole was a tough cookie and laid the law down. The three children have endless stories of the variety of ways they lovingly tortured her throughout the years, and in later years these stories always gave her great joy.
In the later years of their marriage Iole and Mario traveled, lived their lives, and grew together in love. Theirs is a love story like no other. The only love that might have trumped this one was her love for her grandchildren. A Nonna to 9 grandchildren, she instantly became the heart of our family. Her home was where every Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, and Easter were celebrated. Every occasion was a reason for her to cook way too much food, bake too many cookies, and enjoy being surrounded by the big family she created. She looked forward to the holidays every year, knowing her home would be full of family and love. We will cherish these memories for the rest of our lives, and it will never be the same without her at the table.
In her most recent years, Iole spent her time relaxing, being absolutely obsessed with the Hallmark channel and playing Candy Crush. Her favorite days included a Christmas movie, a cup of coffee with cookies for breakfast, and curling up with her iPad and our beloved dog Kylo. She had her wits to the very end, including her wicked sense of humor and love of laughter. This woman was truly like no other and will be missed so fiercely down here.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and many other loved ones, and is surely reunited with them on the other side. She is survived by her children, Augostino, Guiseppe, Maria, her grandchildren, Mario, Frank, Nicole, Annalicia, Mario, Christina, Lisa, Joseph, and Alyssa and many others. Don’t hesitate to send flowers, as she loved them. But in lieu of those if you’d prefer, please make a donation to St. Jude’s Research Hospital in her honor, as she made a point to donate to them every Christmas.
It is hard to imagine a world without Iole, but we will have to try. We love you, Nonna.