Obituary of Gina De Martino

~~Gina DeMartino 1923-2017

Luigia “Gina” DeMartino, was born in the Sicilian commune of Canicatti in the province of Agrigento, to Calegelo and Maria Nicosia Lombardo in June of 1923.  Gina lived most of her childhood and young adult life on the east side of Manhattan and then moved to the Midwood section of Brooklyn following her marriage to Louis DeMartino in 1948.  She and Louis lived in Las Vegas, Nevada, for most of the 1970’s before returning to Brooklyn and eventually moving to Port Washington, NY.

She is survived by her brother Anthony Lombardo, daughter Natalie Abatemarco and son-in-law Fred Abatemarco, her son John DeMartino and his wife Vickie DeMartino. Gina has four adult grandchildren—Eric and John DeMartino, Diane and Daniel Abatemarco, Daniel’s wife Natalie Lieber, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as cousins in Canicatti.  Gina’s eldest brother Joseph predeceased her.

Gina suffered from macular degeneration which rendered her legally blind for at least the last 20 years.  However, she never let her impaired vision slow her down.  For years, she crocheted tablecloths, bedspreads, blankets, sweaters and more.  She was a skilled cook and an expert baker whose dishes and recipes were coveted at family holiday celebrations year after year.  She traveled and enjoyed jazz, blues and pop music.

Gina DeMartino's long and blessed life came to an end on the morning of September 14, 2017. She spent her final hours at home in the Landmark on Main Street residence, surrounded by loved ones, as comfortable as she could be passing on from this world.