Carmella (D"Elia) Carey

Carmella “Cam” D’Elia Carey, of Vernon, CT and most recently of Braintree, MA passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 surrounded by her family. Born and raised in Worcester, MA, daughter of the late Joseph A. and Caterina (Chirico) D’Elia, Cam graduated from Worcester State College in 1964 with a B.S. in education and an M.Ed. She taught for six years in the Worcester public schools. In 1971, Cam married John J. Carey and they moved to Philadelphia, where she taught in the town of Media, PA. In 1975, they moved to Vernon, CT and when Ann Bianca was born the following year, Cam stayed home to raise Ann and to care for Cam’s mother, Caterina. She returned to teaching and spent the last 15 years of her career at St. Rose School in East Hartford, CT where she taught pre-K through first grade. She loved working with young children. Known for her strong work ethic, Cam was dedicated to providing her students with a robust, thorough education, often teaching them skills well beyond their grade level. Her husband, John, now retired, taught at East Catholic High School for 27 years and Cam considered the ECHS faculty and staff to be an extended part of their family and greatly enjoyed attending school functions together with John. There she would often see former students and would take joy in seeing them as they progressed from St. Rose into high school and beyond. Carmella was a devoted and faithful Catholic all her life and a long-time member of Sacred Heart Church and most recently St. Bernard’s Church, both in Vernon, CT. Cam was a devoted wife and mother and would sacrifice anything for her family. Cam and John spent much time with their daughter Ann and traveled with her on family vacations up and down the east coast from Canada to Florida, and would dutifully travel to attend all of Ann’s orchestra concerts. Cam took great pride in her Italian heritage and family history, and her family finds joy in the many family traditions and recipes she passed down to them. She and John were inseparable, always by each other’s side and their love for each other was evident to everyone who met them, even if briefly. In retirement, Cam and John enjoyed their long-time shared interests including jazz concerts in Bushnell Park, visiting historical sites and art museums, university academic conferences on healthcare and politics, Boston sports, and summer vacations at the Outer Cape, Marconi Beach, Wellfleet and Provincetown, where they enjoyed roaming the art galleries. In the last two years, Cam reveled in a new and special joy; her granddaughter Emma was born. Cam and John were blessed to spend much time in Braintree watching Emma grow up. Cam loved Emma very much, and Emma absolutely adored her “Nono.” A strong woman, Cam was smart, tenacious and had an impeccable memory, making it difficult for anyone to win an argument! She was loved for this charm. Carmella leaves her husband of 46 years, John, also of Braintree and Vernon; daughter Ann Bianca Carey Kephart (Bob) and daughter Emma, all of Braintree, MA; a sister, Rose D. (Gian) Orlandi of South Salem, NY and a niece, Gianna Orlandi, of Las Vegas, NV; a brother-in-law, Paul J. (Martha) Carey of Framingham, MA; nephew Richard (Jennie) Carey of Watertown, MA; and nieces Rachel (Greg) Baker of Leeds, MA and Susie (Justin) Sheehan of Burlington, MA. Cam also leaves behind many cousins in the Worcester area and elsewhere. Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours, Wednesday, March 14 from 5:00-7:00pm and Thursday, March 15 from 9:00-10:30am in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Visitors may process with the family from the funeral home to St. John Church (44 Temple Street) at 10:30am in advance of an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery (260 Cambridge St, Worcester, MA). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of Carmella Carey and sent to East Catholic High School, 115 New State Road, Manchester, CT 06042.