Obituary of Anne L. Cortese

Anne L. Cortese died on January 28, 2015 with beloved husband John of 66 years, children and grandchildren by her side. The daughter of the late Frank and Luisa (nee DePalo) DeSantis she was born on September 14, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY. Her husband John is the longtime proprietor of The Golden Gate Market on Flatbush Ave, in Brooklyn NY. Anne was a longtime parishioner & Trustee of St. Thomas Aquinas R.C.C. and devoted member of their Rosary Society. As she prayed her Rosary for everyone around her, let us take a moment to whisper a Hail Mary for the repose of her Soul. Anne is survived by her daughters Janine Coyne (Edward), Louise McCarthy (Thomas) and her son John Cortese (Diane Godoy) and mother of Anne’s dear grandchildren, Toni Cortese. Beloved grandmother of Janine Walsh, Edward Coyne, Christopher Coyne, Dianna Cortese and John Cortese. Dear great-grandmother of Blair Walsh, Shannon Walsh and Alexandra Coyne. Dear sister of Michael DeSantis, Virginia DeSantis and the late George DeSantis, Angelina DeSantis, Rose Messenger and Grace DeSantis. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: NYU Hematology Division Attention: Dr. Kenneth Hymes In Memory of Anne Cortese 240 East 38 Street New York, New York 10016 ______________________________________________________ BY: JOHN CORTESE (SON OF ANNE) MOM’S EULOGY I’D LIKE TO START BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING THE MASS IN SUCH BAD WEATHER TO BE WITH US TODAY. I’D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THOSE THAT ATTENDED MOM’S WAKE OVER THE PAST 2 DAYS. THE TREMENDOUS SHOWING IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW MUCH SHE IS LOVED AND BY SO MANY. MOM BELIEVED DEEPLY IN THE POWER OF PRAYER AND EVERYONE WAS PRAYING HARD FOR HER TO GET BETTER. HER PASSING WAS NOT THE END RESULT WE WERE ALL HOPING AND PRAYING FOR. DON’T BE DISHEARTENED. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW YOUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. GOD GAVE HER AND MY FAMILY A YEAR AND HALF MORE THAN WHAT WAS DIAGNOSED. YOUR PRAYERS ALLOWED OUR FAMILY TIME FOR ALL OF US TO GATHER AND BE AT HER BEDSIDE FOR A PEACEFUL PASSING. THEY GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WHISPER IN HER EAR OUR GOODBYES, OUR THANK YOU’S AND TELL HER HOW LOVED SHE WAS. ALTHOUGH SHE COULD NOT SPEAK, WE ARE CERTAIN THAT SHE HEARD OUR WORDS AS THE MONITOR SHOWED HEART RATE INCREASES WITH EACH MESSAGE. IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS, IT WAS PAINFUL TO WATCH HER PASS AND SEE OUR FAMILY SUFFER. KNOWING MY MOM, IF SHE COULD, SHE WOULD HAVE TAKEN OUR PAIN AND SUFFERING AND GIVEN US THE PEACE. VERY CHRISTLIKE! THAT WAS HER. FOR ME PERSONALLY, HER LAST WORDS TO ME ON THE PHONE THE NIGHT BEFORE SHE PASSED WAS THAT SHE LOVED ME AND MINE TO HER WAS… LOVE YOU MOM. THAT NIGHT DIANE ASKED ME “CAN YOU THINK OF A BETTER WAY FOR SOMEONE TO PASS THAN PEACEFULLY SURROUNDED BY THOSE YOU LOVE?” THERE IS NO BETTER WAY. THOSE WERE THE WAYS YOUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AND MY FAMILY ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THEM. I’D LIKE TO ALSO THANK FR. FONTE FOR TAKING THE TIME FROM HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO SAY THE MASS. WHEN ASKED, HE SAID ANNE CORTESE SHOULD HAVE A CARDINAL CELEBRATE THE MASS. FATHER, WE TRIED BUT CARDINAL DOLAN WAS UNAVAILABLE! SERIOUSLY, THERE WAS NO ONE OUR FAMILY OR MY MOM WOULD HAVE WANTED MORE. THANK YOU FOR SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HEARTFELT SERMON. LASTLY, I’D LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALLOWING ME THE HONOR OF GIVING THIS EULOGY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THE WAKE YOU SAW PICTURE DISPLAYS, BEAUTIFULLY PUT TOGETHER BY MY SISTERS AND MY BROTHER IN LAW EDDIE WHO MOM ALWAYS CONSIDERED HER SECOND SON. THE PHOTOS SHOW A JOURNEY OF A BLESSED LIFE. ANNE WAS BORN ON SEPT. 14TH, 1926 WAS THE 6TH OF 7 CHILDREN OF FRANK AND LUISA DESANTIS. THE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS SHOW A FASHIONABLE, ENERGETIC AND BEATIFUL YOUNG LADY. SHE WAS QUITE SMART AS WELL. SHE WAS THE VALEDICTORIAN AT BOTH HER GRADE SCHOOL GRADUATION AND THEN AGAIN AT HER GRADUATION FROM MADISON HS. DUE TO A DEATH OF A CLOSE RELATIVE, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO COME TO THE GRADUATION TO SEE HER RECEIVE THE AWARD. MOM MADE SURE NEVER TO MISS ANYTHING AND ATTENDED EVERY GRADUATION OR SCHOOL RELATED CEREMONY OF HER CHILDREN, GRAND CHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN FROM PRE--‐SCHOOL THRU COLLEGE. SHE MET MY DAD DURING WW2 . MY UNCLE MIKE, ANNE’S BROTHER, SUGGESTED TO MY DAD TO WRITE HIS SISTER. THEY EXCHANGED LETTERS AND MET JUST BEFORE HE WAS SHIPPED OVERSEAS. THE REST IS HISTORY…OUR FAMILY HISTORY. I’M TOLD THAT WHEN MY PARENTS WERE OUT ON A DATE MY GRANDFATHER, WOULD STAY UP PLAYING SOLLITAIRE UNTIL THEY GOT HOME OR UNTIL MY DAD GOT THE HINT TO LEAVE. MOM WAS THEY SAME WAY. SHE WOULD ALWAYS SLEEP ON THE COUCH UNTIL ALL OF HER CHILDREN WERE HOME SAFE AND SOUND AND THEN GO UP TO BED. ANNE AND JOHN WERE MARRIED ON JUNE 20TH 1947 AT ST. BRENDAN’S CHURCH IN BROOKLYN. MY DAD WAS GETTING BRAINS/BEAUTY/BIG HEART. I ASKED MY DAD WHAT MOM SAW IN HIM AND HE REPLIED…THAT’S WHAT I’D LIKE TO KNOW! THEY RENTED AN APARTMENT IN THE PARRISH OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AND IN 1949 ANNE GAVE BIRTH TO JANINE. SHE WAS THE FIRST OF A FAMILY THAT WOULD GROW TO OVER 20 INCLUDING EDDIE,THOM, TONI, CORMAC, DIANE AND CHRYSTA ALL OF WHOM SHE WELCOMED AND DEEPLY LOVED AS HER OWN CHILDREN. BESIDES BEING JOHN AND ANNE’S FIRST CHILD, SHE WAS THE FIRST GRANDCHILD TO MOM’S PARENTS, THE FIRST TO GRADUATE COLLEGE AND THE FIRST TO MAKE MOM/DAD GRANDPARENTS…TITLES MOM CHERISHED . AS MY MOM BATTLED HER ILLNESS, JANINE AND EDDIE LOVINGLY OPENED UP THEIR HOME,TOOK MOM IN AND CARED FOR HER UNTIL SHE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO RETURN HOME. VERY MOM--‐LIKE! MOM’S SECOND CHILD WAS MY SISTER LOUISE. HER CHILDHOOD NICKNAME WAS “PET LOUISE” GIVEN WHENEVER MOM FAVORED HER IN A CERTAIN SITUATION. SHE HAS NOW EARNED THE TITLE IN OUR FAMILY OF ST. LOUISE FOR TAKING CARE OF MOM FROM DAY 1 TO HER PASSING. AT TIMES SHE SLEPT AT THE HOSPITAL ON A CHAIR, SHE COOKED, SHE BATHED MOM, SHE’D DRIVE HER TO DOCTOR VISITS IN NYC TWICE A WEEK, HANDLED ALL HER BILLS AND MEDICATIONS AND WOULD ALWAYS UPDATE US ON MOM’S CONDITION. LOUISE LIKES TO SAY “MOM, YOU PAID IT FORWARD BUT WE…CAN NEVER PAY YOU BACK”. YOU CERTAINLY TRIED YOUR BEST TO LOU. WITHOUT YOU, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME AGO. YOUR SELFLESSNESS…VERY MOM--‐LIKE! I ENDED UP BEING THE LAST CHILD OF ANNE AND JOHN. I’M TOLD THAT WHEN MY MOM WAS PREGANT WITH ME, AND ABOUT TO BREAK THE NEWS TO MY SISTERS. MOM SAID…”I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU” AND THEY REPLIED “OOO CANDY? I’M TEASED RELENTLESSLY BY THE ENTIRE FAMILY OF MY MOTHER’S WORDS THAT JOHN DOESN’T HAVE A BAD BONE IN HIS BODY. I ASSURED HER SHE WAS WRONG BUT SHE WOULD SAY…NEVER MIND! I KNOW YOU ALL CAN THINK OF AT LEAST ONE BUT I HAVE THE MICROPHONE SO IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT. MOM WAS A BIG FAN OF SHOPPING…A MARATHON OR SHOPPING WARRIOR IF YOU WILL. BEING THE YOUNGEST, I WAS THE ONE THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE WITH HER AND I DREADED GOING. SHE WOULD TAKE HOURS INSPECTING EVERY ITEM ON EVERY RACK BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO GET IT RIGHT. SHE TOLD ME IF I WAS GOOD, SHE WOULD BUY ME FRENCH FRIES. I BELIEVE IT WAS HER UNIQUE WAY OF TEACHING ME PATIENCE. MOM WAS A GREAT TALKER. OUR HOME WAS OFTEN FILLED WITH FRIENDS AND I CAN SSURE YOU I NEVER ONCE WORRIED THERE WOULD BE THOSE AWKWARD MOMENTS OF SILENCE. SHE WOULD WELCOME THEM WITH WARMTH AND FOOD. DAD AND I WOULD LAUGH HOW SHE WOULD FOLLOW CUSTOMERS OUT OF THE FRUIT STORE STILL TALKING AS THEY TRIED TO SAY GOODBYE. I REMEMBER SAYING TO MY SELF, SOME DAY I WILL MISS IT AND NOW I DO. MAYBE MORE THAN BEING A GREAT TALKER, MOM WAS A GREAT LISTENER. SHE WOULD NOT ONLY ASK ASK HOW YOU WERE DOING BUT ALSO HOW THOSE DEAREST TO YOU WERE DOING. IF YOU NEEDED PRAYERS, SHE WOULD SAY THEM. SHE’D EVEN GET HER FRIENDS AT CHURCH TO SAY THEM FOR YOU. IN THE OLD DAYS, I REMEMBER HER CREW TRAVELING TO CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY JUST TO SAY NOVENAS AND PRAY. SHE HAD AN UNWAVERING DEEP FAITH IN GOD UNLIKE ANYONE I HAVE EVER MET. HER FAITH GUIDED HER THROUGH LIFE. SHE ATTENDED MASS EVERY DAY UNTIL SHE WAS UNABLE TO AND THEN SHE WOULD ALWAYS WATCH IT ON TV. I REMEMBER HER AT HOME IRONING PRIEST’S ROBES AND ALTAR VESTMENTS. EVERY NAP WAS TAKEN WITH ROSARY BEADS IN HAND. DIANE CALLED HER A WALKING SAINT ON EARTH. NOW SHE IS OUR ANGEL IN HEAVEN. I’M CERTAIN SHE MADE IT THERE TOO. DRIVING HOME LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER SHE DIED, THE SUNSHINE WAS INCREDIBLY BLINDING, UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD SEEN BEFORE. AS WE CROSSED THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, THE REFLECTION OFF THE WATER MADE IT EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR. THE NEXT MORNING, I WOKE DIANE TO SHOW HER THAT SAME BRILLIANT SUN WAS ONCE AGAIN UP THERE. MOM WAS JUST LETTING US KNOW SHE WAS OK. MY PARENTS LIVED IN ST.THOMAS AQUINAS FOR ALMOST 70 YEARS. THEY SENT US TO SCHOOL THERE. SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BROTHER’S AUXILLARY, THE ROSARY SOCIETY AND HEADED ENDLESS COMMITTEES. THIS CHURCH WAS HER SECOND HOME. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT SHE PASSED AWAY ON THE FEAST OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS. ONE OF HER FAVORITE STA ACTIVITIES WAS RUNNING THE CARD PARTIES I GUESS BECAUSE IT ALLOWED HER TO SHOP AND RAISE MONEY FOR THE CHURCH AT THE SAME TIME. IF YOU NEEDED A VOLUNTEER, YOU ALWAYS COULD COUNT ON ANNE. SHE HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS…FROM HELPING HER MOM AS A LITTLE GIRL RIGHT UP TO HER 80’S GIVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HER OLDER SIBLINGS GEORGE, LEA AND VIRGINIA. MOM WAS AN AWESOME COOK. SHE MADE SURE THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS HEALTHY AND DELICIOUS HOME--‐COOKED MEALS FOR US. I DIDN’T KNOW UNTIL I WAS A TEENAGER THAT THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS A TV DINNER. SHE WOULD ALWAYS SERVE US FIRST AND GIVE US THE PRIME PIECES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY DAD! EVERY SATURDAY MOM WOULD INVITE MY GRANDFATHER, AUNT VIRGINIA AND AUNT LEA OVER FOR A SPECIAL MEAL. THOSE WERE SUCH HAPPY MEMORIES FOR ALL OF US. TO HER FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING SHE COULD DO, SHE DID. MOM WAS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. WE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE ALL WRITTEN HOMEWORK BEFORE WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO OUT AND PLAY AFTER SCHOOL. STUDYING WAS LEFT FOR THE NIGHT AFTER DINNER. SHE WOULD CHECK OUR HOMEWORK, TEST US AND WHEN WE NEEDED HER MOST SHE WOULD STAY AWAKE TYPING A REPORT SO THAT WE COULD GET OUR REST. SHE TAUGHT ME TO DANCE BY HAVING ME STAND ON HER FEET AS SHE MOVED ON THE DANCE FLOOR. SHE LOVED MONTAUK, LOBSTER, COFFEE, OLD MOVIES, THE METS, GIRL’S NIGHT OUT FOR A BROADWAY SHOW AND DINNER, THE DAILY NEWS AND LISTENING TO THE RADIO. PERHAPS MY FONDEST MEMORY OF JUST MOM AND ME HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF US LISTENING TO THE RADIO. THE STATION WOULD PLAY HENNY YOUNGMAN JOKES UNTIL THE CALLER SCREAMED HE COULDN’T TAKE ANYMORE. FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD HERE, HENNY YOUNGMAN WAS THE KING OF THE ONE--‐LINERS. WE LAUGHED TOGETHER MANY MORNINGS. I SAW THAT HE WAS APPEARING AT A COMEDY CLUB AND WE WENT, ALONG WITH JOHN MCNICHOLAS AND HIM MOM. I NEVER HEARD HER LAUGH AS HARD AS SHE DID THAT NIGHT. AS HENNY RELENTLESSLY KEPT THE JOKES COMING SHE COULD BARELY CATCH HER BREATH. I LOOKED OVER AND SAW TEARS OF LAUGHTER RUNNING DOWN HER FACE. BETWEEN 1978 AND 1994 HER 5 TREASURED GRANDCHILDREN ARRIVED. SHE HAS A PHOTO OF THE 5 OF YOU TOGETHER WHEN YOU WERE VERY YOUNG IN FRONT OF HER TELEVISION SET IN CONSTANT VIEW. SHE LOVED YOU ALL DEARLY AND WAS PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE BECOME. YOU HEARD FROM HER FIRST GRANDCHILD JANINE , WHO GAVE A MOST TOUCHING HEARTFELT EULOGY. EDDIE WAS THE MUSICIAN AND AS A YOUNGSTER HE WOULD PASS AROUND HIS BASEBALL CAP AFTER PLAYING HIS SAXOPHONE FOR TIPS. GRANDMA WOULD ALWAYS ELBOW MY DAD AND TELL HIM TO PUT SOME MONEY IN! CHRIS PICKED HER TO BE HIS SPONSOR FOR CONFIRMATION. GRANDMA TOLD HIM HE SHOULD PICK SOMEONE YOUNGER BUT HE SAID SHE WAS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A CATHOLIC AND HOW TO LIVE RIGHT. SHE ALWAYS TOLD DIANNA THAT SHE HAD HER SPIRIT AND THAT DIANNA REMINDED HER OF WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG. YOU ALWAYS BROUGHT UP GRANDMA’S SPIRITS WITH YOUR MANY VISITS TO THE HOSPITAL. IM SO HAPPY YOUR NAME BEARS HERS…THAT WAS NOT BY ACCIDENT. JOHNNIE, THANK YOU TOO FOR A WONDERFUL EULOGY I WILL NEVER FORGET AND FOR FLYING BACK FROM ASIA WITHOUT EVEN A SECOND THOUGHT TO BE WITH THE FAMILY. YOU SHOULD ALL KNOW… THE MAIN REASON WE DECIDED NOT OT MOVE OUT OF BROOKLYN TO RAISE YOU WAS SO THAT YOU WOULD GET TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE AND GOODNESS OF ALL YOUR GRANDPARENTS. THE FIVE OF YOU CERTAINLY PUT THE “GRAND “IN GRANDCHILDREN FOR HER. MOM WAS BLESSED EVEN MORE WITH THE ADDITION OF 3 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN. WHAT A JOY IT WAS TO WATCH MOM WORK HER MAGIC ONE LAST TIME WITH HER BLAIR, SHANNON AND ALEXANDRA. THEY LOVINGLY CALLED HER “GG”, SHORT FOR GREAT GRANDMOTHER. EVEN IN ILLNESS, MOM REMAINED SPIRITED AND AN INSPIRATION FOR US ALL. OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, MOM ENDURED MULTIPLE HOSPITAL STAYS, ARDUOUS DOCTOR VISITS AND LIVED WITH PAIN. IT GOT HARDER AND HARDER AS TIME WENT BY YET SHE NEVER ONCE COMPLAINED AND SHOWED GREAT STRENGHT AND DIGNITY THROUGHOUT. THE NYUSTAFF TREATING HER TREATED MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE BUT THEY CONSIDERED HER THEIR “VIP”. I’M TOLD THAT WHEN WORD OF MOM’S PASSING REACHED THE MEDICAL STAFF THEY ALL CRIED. ONE PERSON SAID THE FLAG IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL SHOULD BE LOWERED AND FLY AT HALF MAST IN HONOR OF ANNE. THE MORE YOU LOVE SOMEONE, THE HARDER IT IS TO SAY GOODBYE. IT IS CERTAINLY TRUE IN THIS CASE. MOTHERS TEACH US EVERYTHING, EXCEPT HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT THEM. IN CLOSING, I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US…MOM WE WILL MISS YOU. WE THANK YOU AND WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. MOM ALWAYS TAUGHT US NOT TO TALK OR MAKE NOISE IN CHURCH. I HOPE YOU DON’T GET MAD AT ME MOM BUT I’D LIKE US TO APPLAUD YOU AND CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ANNE CORTESE.