Christine Cannito

Christine Cannito, (nee Gentile), age 99, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday April 22, 2019, while receiving the loving care of her family.

Christine was born in Buffalo, NY, and was raised in Brooklyn.  She was one of four children to Pasquale and Mary Gentile.  Christine was also a member of a group in our society known as “The Greatest Generation.”  While growing up in Brooklyn and after graduating from high school, Christine found work as a seamstress which was no easy task during the time of the Great Depression.  After working as a seamstress for a few years, tragedy struck her family when her father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  Christine was only twenty-three with two younger siblings, when her mother moved the family to Michigan to live with relatives. Christine’s mother passed away one year after her father, nearly to the day.  Following her mother’s death, Christine took the responsibility of raising her younger brother and sister.

Christine grew up with a young man named Frank Cannito; they actually attended grammar school together.  Later, as they grew up as young adults, they started dating.  The couple dated for nearly six years.  When Frank returned from his service in the Army Air Corps during the Second World War, Christine and Frank were married on March 11, 1943, in Michigan.  They settled in a working and middle class section of Brooklyn known as Canarsie.  While living there, Christine and Frank welcomed both of their children, Frank Jr. and Francine.  From this point on, Christine devoted herself to her family and became a full time homemaker.  The family moved to Queens Village in 1956.  In 1969, they moved to Wayne and have been there ever since.  Frank and Christine cherished nearly fifty-one years of a loving marriage together, until Frank’s passing in 1994.

Christine was a wonderful cook.  In the past years, she spent her time babysitting, sewing, crocheting, and knitting. She was the classic mom/wife that had supper on the table every night for her family and hosted countless holidays and family events at her home. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and family.  She had a most memorable cross country trip with her husband and family from New York to California in 1968.  The couple also vacationed to Hawaii three times through the years.  Christine continued to travel after she lost her beloved Frank, and visited other memorable places such as Greece and Italy.  Frank and Christine owned a home in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Christine enjoyed her numerous trips there during the winter months.

Christine was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for many years.  She was Vice President of her husband’s company, Fran Deb Fringing in New York City.  She worked closely with her husband, Frank, and made garment novelties.  Christine was a strong-willed woman, and very loving.  Aside from all of Christine’s interests, hobbies, and talents, her greatest passion was for her family. Christine was blessed with a long life and a wonderful family.  She had many friends and touched the lives of many people.  She will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Christine is survived by her daughter Francine Casale and her husband Steve of Wayne, her son Frank Cannito, Jr. and his wife Helen of Delaware, OH, one sister, Ninfa Buscemi of West Palm Beach, FL,  six grandchildren; Kristen Mallet and her husband Josh of Wayne, Allison Makowsky and her husband Marc of Wyckoff, Dana Moon and her husband Kevin of Oakland, Danielle Linert and her husband Jan of Worthington, OH, Shawna Morita and her husband Don of Delaware, OH, and Gregory Cannito and his partner Steven Zindler of Danbury, CT, and seven great grandchildren: Jack, Luke, Sam, Maya, Luke, Kylie, and Jake.  She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Cannito, in 1994, as well as her two brothers, Steve and Murray Gentile.