Georgiana Rioux Cammarata, age 107, widow of Michael Cammarata, passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, January 12, 2023, with her children at her bedside.
Georgie, as she was affectionately known, was born on May 23, 1915, in Grand Falls, Victoria, New Brunswick, Canada. She was the third of ten children born to George T. and Anna (Beaulieu) Rioux.
She grew up on her family’s potato farm in Grand Falls and was educated in a one room schoolhouse. She moved to Maine in her teens and later to Boston when she was just 20 years old. In Boston she worked as an Au Pair for a physician and his family. In her twenties she moved to New York and worked at the 1939 World’s Fair in Flushing Park, Queens, waitressing and as a Nylon stocking model for the DuPont Corporation as they launched this new product. She also made many friends with the little people who were a part of the “Miracle Town Carnivale.” The World’s Fair made a strong impression on her which also influenced many Americans. While still living in New York, she became a Millner apprentice and met her future husband, Michael. It was love at first sight. Their 55-year long marriage began in Forest Hills, NY, on May 30,1941 when they married at Our Lady of Mercy. Mike had taken a job at the American Brass Company and the couple moved to Waterbury, Connecticut. They later built a small Cape Cod home in Prospect, Connecticut to raise their family. Upon Michael’s retirement, the couple moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area where they enjoyed the year-round warmth and sunshine. Following in their footsteps, all their children eventually moved to Florida, too.
Georgie was a member of the Greatest Generation. She lived through two world wars and two pandemics; lived through the Great Depression and experienced enormous and amazing technological advancements. She shared a common purpose with her peers: common values–duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of God, family and country, and, above all, responsibility for oneself. She and her husband instilled these same values in their five children.
Georgie always kept busy contributing to the financial support of her family whether it be waitressing at the Elton Hotel in Waterbury; as a representative for Avon, Fuller Brush, Menu Makers or Heritage Family Albums; she was a determined, dedicated and loving wife and mother. She was a fabulous cook, a seamstress and enjoyed reading, quilting, knitting, crocheting and playing cards. She was a devout practicing Roman Catholic; her life was defined by her unwavering faith and trust in God; her beautiful smile, grace, kindness, and great sense of humor.
She loved her family dearly. Her children were the light of her life and her relationships with her sisters and brothers was cherished. The door was always open and she always welcomed visits from her extensive family and friends. She truly was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She touched the lives of so many people. Her smile and humor will be sorely missed and will never, ever be forgotten by those who were blessed to know and love her.
Georgiana was preceded in death by her husband Michael (d. 1996) and her siblings: Edgar Rioux, Betty DesJardins, Paul Emile Rioux, George Rioux, Jr., Laurette Bourgoin, Edmond Rioux, Pio Rioux, Lucienne Poitras and great grandson Vincent Cammarata.
She is survived by her five children: Bryan Cammarata of Deland, FL, Linda (Ric) Kerski of Ocala, FL, Arlene (Pat) Lombardo of Punta Gorda, FL, Ann Marie (Tim) Reilly of Deland, FL and Michele (Jim) Cleer, of Daytona Beach, FL and her adopted son, Robert Ferravanti of Pawleys Island, SC; her 12 grandchildren: Michael, Chuck (Kris), and Julie Cammarata, Kimberly (Steve) Gere and Erica (Phil) Tuttle, Marni (Tim) Kellogg and David (Andrea) Baummer, P.J., Christopher, and Parker Buza, Matthew (Carlyn) Cleer , Melissa (Franco) Cleer, and her step-grandson Justin Hipp; her 6 great grandchildren: Victoria, Julia, and Josephine Cammarata, Ashton Kellogg, Olivia Breeding and Linden Cleer; and her brother Bertrand (Sylvette) Rioux, numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
No words can express how grateful and blessed we are to the entire staff at the Palms Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Palm Bay, Florida, for their amazing, loving care for Georgie over the last ten years while she was a resident. She was so very appreciative of their care and thought of the staff as her friends.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 27th, 2023, at All Souls Historic Chapel, 800 South Oak Ave., Sanford, Florida 32771
Inurnment will be held in the late summer of 2023 at the family graveside at Paroisse Saint-Michel Cemetery, Drummond, Victoria County, New Brunswick, Canada.