Alberto Melaragno

Alberto Melaragno, age 98, of Greene Township passed away at home on November 10, 2024, 45 days shy of his 99th birthday. Alberto was born in Vandra, Forli del Sannio, Italy on December 15, 1925, a son of the late Michele and Graziella Chiacchiari Melaragno.

Alberto immigrated with his wife and son to the United States in 1971, arriving on the 4th of July to pursue the "American Dream" that his brothers and many family members had pursued before them. He joined his brothers Emidio (wife Maria) and Alberico (wife Linda), who were of immense help to them and helped them transition to their new life in America.

He was in the Italian Army, serving his country in WWII. Alberto worked in Construction with A. Anthony & Sons and Colecchia Construction, from which he retired in 1990.

He loved gardening, cultivating his fig trees, making wine, and hunting, but most of all, he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he was very proud of all their accomplishments.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Filomena, brother and sister-in-law Ferdinando and Marietta Melaragno, brothers Emidio Melaragno and Alberico Melaragno; sisters Filomena Matticoli and Albina Vitale, brother-in-law Michele Vitale and nephew Giovanni Vitale.

He is survived by his son Michael Melaragno, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandchildren Albert Melaragno (Shannon), Samuel Melaragno (Ellie), and Filomena Mitchell (Ryan) as well as six great-grandchildren: Mila, Faith, Eva and Enzo Melaragno and Silvana and Santino Mitchell. He is further survived by his sisters-in-law Maria Melaragno, Linda Melaragno and many nieces and nephews both in the U.S. and Italy.

Family and friends may call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Tuesday, November 12th, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass at Saint Paul R.C. Church, 1617 Walnut Street, on Wednesday, November 13th, at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will be at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to the LECOM Visiting Nurses Association through the Wings of Hope Fund at www.wingsofhopeerie.org.