Maria Concetta Giubardo

Maria Concetta (Connie) Giubardo departed this life on October 12th, 2018, at her home in Brookhaven Hamlet, NY, at the age of 96. Through God's mercy and compassion, she will finally be laid to rest, on November 30th, 2024, in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Saint Marys, KS. 

Connie was born on August 14th, 1922, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption, to parents Maria Rosa ("Rose" Pipitone) and Francesco (Frank) Porretto in Brooklyn NY. Connie's parents and 3 older sisters had immigrated to New York from Palermo, Sicily. 

One of 11 children, Connie had many fond memories of her childhood, parents and siblings, which she loved to share with her granddaughter and her great-grandchildren. They greatly enjoyed hearing her fascinating stories of the old days; especially of the exploits of her brother Sebastian (Ben) who served as a sniper in the Pacific in WWII and her brother Emmanuel (Manny) a paratrooper in Europe in WWII. As an adult, Connie continued to cherish her siblings and their offspring and made the time and effort to keep in touch with them. 

After graduating high school and working for a bit, Connie met the love of her life, Sylvester (Syd) Giubardo and they were married in 1942. 

To their great joy, their daughter Rosemary was born in 1944. 

Connie and Syd enjoyed many happy years together. Syd was a gifted car mechanic who specialized in restoring vintage and foreign cars and Connie shared his interest in the cars, antique clocks, and cabin cruiser boat he so painstakingly restored. They had many enjoyable outings at car shows, where Syd's restored one of a kind MG Moto race car was on display. They also enjoyed together their clock association meetings, hunting for antiques and their time on their boat. They were a couple who truly enjoyed each other's company and both went out of their way to make each other feel loved, appreciated and taken care of, on a daily basis. 

When their daughter Rosemary married in 1967, they welcomed their son-in-law Tom with open arms and much love. Connie at times would even refer to Tom as her son, when introducing him to people. On holidays she would make a separate special main dish just for him, if he didn't like the usual Sicilian fare. 

Connie and Syd's greatest sorrow in life was that they were only blessed with one child. Thus, they were absolutely overjoyed when their sole grandchild Deborah was born in 1967 and they wholeheartedly fostered such a close bond with her, that they essentially became a second mother and father to her. Deborah was born prematurely and after a month in the hospital incubator, her homecoming was highly anticipated and celebrated with much festivity. As the story goes, Connie, in her excitement to finally welcome her granddaughter home, liberally seasoned the egg salad that day with cinnamon instead of paprika! 

Syd predeceased Connie in 1996. 

Connie had cared for her beloved husband Syd at home through his many years of Alzheimer's, with much love and tenderness. She never remarried, as she was convinced, she had already had the most wonderful husband and would never find his equal. 

While Syd would never get to know his great-grandchildren (whom he would have loved immensely), Connie went on to enjoy many more years and her joy increased exponentially at the birth of each great-grandchild. Each impending birth announcement was always met with absolute delight, much laughter and tears of joy by "Great Nan" as she eagerly awaited the new addition! 

Connie cherished her granddaughter and each great-grandchild with all her heart. Although the miles separated them, every day upon arising, she would turn to their photos, greet them with a cheery "hello children" and sometimes a quick kiss, before getting on with her day. 

Connie's greatest joy in life was her family. She was a gifted cook, talented seamstress and exceptional homemaker and was never happier than when caring for her family. 

She was a wonderful friend and neighbor as well, and she especially held dear, her cherished neighbor Marilyn Mccutcheon and Marilyn's two sons Matthew and Justin, who called her Aunt Connie and who all brightened her life immensely with their visits. 

In her later years, she fulfilled a lifetime dream of visiting Italy, when her nephew Paul Varanelli and his wife took her on an extended trip there. She was especially thrilled to visit the Vatican. 

All those who knew and loved Connie miss her deeply and cherish her memory. She was patient, kind, cheerful, nurturing and loving, with an optimistic spirit, despite her crosses in life. At challenging times, she would joke with a twinkle in her eye, "the first hundred years are the hardest". She was the family peacemaker and the glue that held us together, but her greatest gift was her ability to make people feel truly seen, heard, accepted and loved. 

Connie had a special devotion to the Holy Family and she made a special effort to teach her granddaughter Deborah (raised a non- Catholic), to ask the Holy Family's intercession by repeating "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, keep me from harm" and continued to remind her at times, especially after the great grandchildren were born, to pray this for her family. 

Some of the last cherished memories Connie's family has, is bringing her to Confession and seeing her come out of the Confessional with tears of joy streaming down her face and also her visit to Saint Marys, KS, where she was excited to attend Compline at Assumption Chapel. 

Connie was predeceased by: Her parents; Francesco and Maria Rosa (Pipitone) Porretto and her siblings; Frances (Michael) Varanelli; Josephine (Frank) Caliguri; Antonette (Ignazio) Cardella, Emmanuel (Natalie); Sebastian (Yolanda); Mario; Marie (Marco) Albergo; Jean (Romeo) Antonio; and twin babies. 

Left behind to mourn her passing, cherish her memory and pray for her soul are her daughter Rosemary (Tom) Cornell, Saint Marys, KS; her granddaughter Deborah Monteleone, Saint Marys; her great-granddaughters: Amanda, Allison, Emma, Sophia and Maria-Helena Monteleone - Saint Marys and her great-grandson Luke Monteleone - Garrison, NY. She also leaves behind several of her sibling's children and their families. 

Mass of Christian burial - Saturday, November 30th, 12pm, Immaculate Conception Church, Saint Marys, KS. Internment immediately following: Mount Calvary cemetery, Saint Marys, KS 

Arrangements made by Piper Funeral Home, Saint Marys.