Tommasa Vitello 1931-2024

She was born Sept. 2, 1931, in Vieste, Italy to her parents Michele and Vincenza Tatalo, the fourth of nine children.

As a young woman, Tommasa met George Vitello, whose family was also from Vieste. After their marriage in Italy in 1953, the newlyweds moved to his hometown of Warren, where Tommasa became a homemaker and stepmother to George’s three children from a previous marriage. Her own children would come soon after and she was welcomed into her husband’s big Italian American family.

It would be 15 years before she would return to her place of birth to visit her family, bringing her husband and three children along for a memorable two-month vacation.

Known for her homemade pizza, Italian cookies and fried dough, Tommasa “Tessina” loved feeding her family and guests. She could sit and talk and laugh with them for hours. She favored colorful clothing and scarves and enjoyed sewing, gardening, watching TV and running a tight household. Tessina also had a beautiful singing voice and would often sing while cooking or cleaning. Occasionally she would sing songs in Italian with George accompanying her on guitar. Her faith was important to her, and she was an active member of St. Pius church for many years.

Following the death of her husband in 1993, Tessina learned how to drive, bought her first car and moved across town. She was very independent and lived alone for 30 years. But she was also a very social person, connecting with anyone who crossed her path. She chatted up health practitioners, neighbors, repair men etc., often asking personal questions and sharing her own stories with them.

Tessina leaves behind her sisters, Mattia and Giuseppina and brother, Gaetano, all of Italy, and brother, Antonio Tatalo of Las Vegas, Nevada; children, Marie Vitello-Brown and husband Timothy Brown of Las Vegas, Nevada, Lucille (Chia) Vitello and partner Eleanor Davis of Rowley, Massachusetts, and Vincent Vitello, and wife Yumiko of Kamakura, Japan; two grandsons, Leo and Jonah; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in the U.S. and Italy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and siblings Frank, Catherine, Nick and baby Giuseppe.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers and staff at Oakmont of the Lakes, Encompass Rehab Center, and Physician’s Choice Hospice, all of Las Vegas, who treated Tessina with such love and kindness in the final days and weeks of her life.

At Tessina’s request, there will not be a funeral service. Her ashes will eventually be brought back to her home country of Italy.

(special notice)