Constance Caruso

Constance Caruso, 83, of Boynton Beach, passed away on May 2, 2019 with her family by her side and with God's grace and love. She was born to the late Nicholas and Rachel Basso, on June 28, 1935, in Manhattan, New York. Connie graduated from Julia Richman High School. This was an all-girls high school that the late actress Lauren Bacall had also attended. • She worked for Gimbels, Sixth Avenue at 32nd Street, in Midtown Manhattan • She worked for a law firm, near Columbus Circle, New York, NY • She worked for the California Texas Oil Company, 380 Madison Avenue, New York, NY o In the May 1956 CALTEXTRA publication, VOL. IV – No 3, there is an article and photo about mom. "A long row of general correspondence files, here tapped by Connie Basso, compliment extensive map and survey files." • Worked at The Gun Hill Manor • Worked at Seaside Market o Mom's famous Meatball Subs o And the famous Potato Salad that Mom and Aunt Mary made She married Thomas J Caruso on July 23, 1972, and of course, they would renew their wedding vows years later. They lived together in the general Fort Lauderdale area, then we lived over Seaside Market on Las Olas Blvd, we then moved to North Lauderdale for several years, and then finally relocating to Boynton Beach in 2001. Connie is survived by her children, Susan Averill of Portland, Tennessee; Marilyn Hricik, George Hricik both of Boynton Beach; Donna Hricik of Loxahatchee, and Connie Ferretti of Boynton Beach. She is also survived by Michael Caruso and Susan Caruso of Vero Beach. She had 19 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Connie is also survived by her sisters Anne Marie and Marilyn. Mom was always about LOVE and FAMILY. She loved her family and her extended family; Mom and Dad would sacrifice, care for, take in, love and nurture, children, grandchildren, sisters, nephews and nieces. All were welcome with open hearts. Mom would always light a candle and pray over the whole family. Special talent • A Home Chef: She loved to cook, mostly Italian food, Lasagna was a work of art; she would pass down the recipes to her grandchildren. • An Artist: She loved to paint, she did crochet (making baby blankets for the grandkids0, she made Christmas wreaths, she sewed (made her own gowns and dresses), she gave to St. Matthews church by making crosses and a Crown of Jesus from the palms from Palm Sunday • A Handywoman: She was handy because her father would teach my mom and her siblings how to paint, how to put up wall paper, and how to use basic tools; even her mother taught her and her sisters how to sew, crochet, and do knitting. • A Powerhouse for Women: The use of the middle finger when she wanted to be feisty. We used to say that was Mom's way of saying you are Number 1; however, if she then showed you her fist – you were in even more trouble. Favorite Song(s): • More – Jerry Vale • Al Di La – Emilio Pericoli • If – Billy Eckstine Favorite saying(s): • Mom had several, o You're the love of my life o I love you with all my heart o You're the apple of my eye o You are my life o My joy a mia o What are they, crazy in the head? o You are my heart and soul Traits and habits: It was an Italian house, so you could never say no to anything. • Do you want some coffee? No? Okay, I'll pour you a cup. • Are you hungry? No? Ok, I will make you/heat up some food. • You could never say No! Favorite Drink and Favorite Food: • Coffee • Mom's lasagna • Mom's Spaghetti and Meatballs • Honey balls (Strufolli) Birthday and Special Occasion Cards: • Mom had a special way about writing out each card, it never seemed to matter what the card company wrote in the card. If she liked the words she would always underline them, sometimes triple underlining them! However, they would always add their own words. o Love you so much, you Light Up Our World o Happy you were in Italy; it's beautiful.  Surprised you didn't meet a nice guy there, right?! Love you so much and always will. Your proud Grandma & Grandpa o To our Beautiful, Smart, Cake Baker with a Million Dollar Smile  With all our love always & forever. You light up our hearts with your smile. Your hugs and kisses we treasure those moments that we are with you. She grew up in Harlem and in Manhattan, she played jump rope and hung out. They lived on 108th Street, on the 2nd Floor, most of Grandpa's family lived in the same building. She used to like to go to The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on Allerton Avenue in the Bronx. As kids growing up, mom would go on family trips to New Jersey, to the Bronx to visit relatives, and went to the beaches. In Jersey, they used to hang off a rope and swing out into the lake. When visiting they would sleep on the floor if there was not enough room. Her parents loved to play cards, the family would go to Orchard Beach with her cousins. In New York we went to Orchard Beach, Jones Beach, Rye Beach, Coney Island, Freedomland Amusement Park, Bronx Zoo, we would take the ferry around the city. We would attend the Feast of St Carmel, and who could forget visiting Little Italy on Arthur Avenue. She and Dad would take a trip to Europe; they toured Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Yugoslavia, Ireland, and Italy. Mom loved this trip! • In Rome, we walked down the streets to the Spanish Steps, threw coins in the Trevi Fountain, we visited the café's, the palaces and roman ruins. They would travel to Mexico, to Acapulco twice, to the Bahamas and to Ecuador. We took a trip to Tennessee, with the station wagon where the back seat faced backwards. I often remember the trials and tribulations of our family trips. We were always together, through the good and the bad, the crazy and the insane. The trips to Disney World were always fun, made even more so with Aunt Rita and Uncle Greg, with Uncle Greg's invisible dog. We also went to Circus World and to Six Gun Territory in Silver Springs Mom and Dad would enjoy seeing their children marry and have children. Their grandchildren grow up and have great-grandchildren. This was all documented by the enormous chain of all of the children and grandchildren that she would wear with pride. They attended weddings, births, and funerals. They would always be there for each other through it all. Mom and Dad could have starred in a few movies, The Notebook comes to mind. As they always loved each other and would be each other's soul mate. They could have also starred in My Big Fat Greek Ecuadorian Wedding, as they were my two guests for my own wedding; and yes there were many similarities between life and art.