Obituary of Maria Josephine Gargano

Maria Josephine Gargano, a former Darien resident, died at her Stamford home on Sunday, May 2, 2010. She was 79 years old. "Jo" Cotrona Gargano was born in Martone, Italy on September 17, 1930. At the age of eight, she immigrated to Darien with her family, the late Georgio and Caterina Cotrona and her late older sister, Elizabeth M. Calve, and where she remained a resident until her move to Stamford in 2000. Jo Gargano began her business career as the assistant to her brother-in-law, George M. Calve, and Calve Brothers Construction Company, Darien developers during the 1950s and 1960s. Later she was affiliated with Retailers commercial Agency where she worked for many years in credit research. Following her tenure at Retailers, Mrs. Gargano started a career in the Credit Union movement. She worked with the Machlette Employees Federal credit Union, of Stamford, where she rose to the position of treasurer, then manager, and where Mrs. Gargano proudly assisted the credit union's members with financial advice until her retirement. She then went on to help raise her two grandchildren, Ford and Lucas Thompson. Mrs. Gargano was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, Nicola Gargano, also an émigré of Italy. Together they raised two daughters, Elisabeth Gargano Thompson of Darien and Marcia Gargano of Stamford. She is survived by her grandchildren, as well as her son-in-law Howard L. Thompson and many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Friday, May 7, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 12:30 PM. Burial will follow St. John R.C. Cemetery in Darien. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Darien Lions Club, P. O. Box 144, Darien, CT 06820 or Discovery to Cure, Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attn: Renee Luongo, P. O. Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820