Born on June 16, 1972 in Avelino, Italy, Carmela came to the United States with her parents, Angelo and Antonia Macchia, and three siblings in 1978. The family settled in Silver Lake, New York and later they moved to Pawling where Carmela attended school and graduated from Pawling High School in 1991. In high school and after, she worked for Gaudino’s Pizza. Carmela worked for many years at CNC Unisex Salon as a manager at several of their locations. Over the years, Carmela also worked as a waitress or hostess at several area restaurants. It was while working at Augie’s Numero Uno that she met Christopher Ryan. Chris said he knew right away she was someone special, someone he wanted to get to know better and on October 28, 2003, Carm finally agreed to their first date. In January 2010, with her parents and his family all present, Christopher asked Carmela to marry him, and she said yes. Carmela and Chris celebrated their union on June 25, 2011 with the wedding she always wanted and with love and joy from all present. With this marriage, Carmela gained 13 new sisters and brothers, and added to the nieces and nephews she already had and loved. She also learned the art of Lebanese cooking. Carmela enjoyed her work at Pleasant View and Casa Della Luce, meeting the “locals” and customers in Westerly, Rhode Island and working with a wonderful group of caring individuals.
Carmela suffered from kidney disease since childhood and at the age of 26, had a kidney transplant, which gave her a new lease on life. Unfortunately, as with all transplants, her kidney gave out and she was on dialysis. She hoped to get on the transplant list when healthy enough. She continued to work, staying close to her friends and family and enjoying her life with her husband. She spent one month at Hartford Hospital and the last two months at Yale-New Haven Hospital trying so hard to battle back. She had many visitors every day, all trying to keep her spirits up, and for this, Christopher cannot thank you all enough. It was a great help to him, seeing old and new friends, co-workers, and family. Unfortunately, on October 28, 2018, with Carm’s family and friends around her and Christopher snuggled next to her, holding her, she took her last breath.
Carmela is survived by her husband, Christopher, her parents Angelo and Antonia Macchia, her brother Jerry and his wife, Nikki, another brother Antonio, beloved nieces and nephews, (Jerry, AJ, Marianna, Bella, Michael, Michelle, Bridget, Melissa, Peter, Sam, Megan, Christian, Tess, Matthew, Lily, Julia, Serafina) a few great-nieces and -nephews, countless cousins, uncles, and aunts, and, of course, her boxer Harley, who always gave her lots of love and is so sad today. She is predeceased by her sister, Michelina Rozell.
Carmela was a fiercely strong and independent woman. She was selfless and giving and caring and she will be deeply missed by so many.
A visitation will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at, 10 Fowler Avenue, Carmel, NY 10512. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Roman Cathlolic Church, 53 Winter Hill Road, Tuckahoe, NY 10707. After Mass, Carm will be entombed in a Mausoleum at her final resting place at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 50 Jackson Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10704.
