Visitation at Funeral Home
Visitation
Mass
Obituary of Carol Bongiorno
Carol was born in Mineola NY to Peter and Jean Olsen. She was preceded by her twin sister Sue by six minutes, allowing Sue to claim being the elder sister.
After her early childhood in Mineola, her family moved into one of the historic Victorian homes along Hillside Ave in East Williston. As a teenager, they moved to Williston Park, where she stayed until she was married.
Carol went to Mineola High School where she played the double bass.
She also enjoyed playing the piano and singing with her sister Sue.
After graduation, she went to Houston, where her older brother Peter lived, and worked for the Houston Power and Light Company. Having missed the seasonal elements of a Northeast Christmas, she returned to Williston Park and eventually began working as a secretary for Sperry Corp.
At Sperry, she was surrounded by young engineers, but one in particular caught her eye, and they began dating during the summer of 1956.
Joe Bongiorno lived in Brooklyn and spent much time driving the Belt Parkway to take Carol out on dates. They were married on November 22, 1958 and moved to Hollis, NY. There they began a family with the birth of their first two sons, James and Peter.
With the pending arrival of a third child, they bought a house in Williston Park, around the corner from Carol’s parents. They moved in shortly before their third son, Richard, was born. A few years later, they finally had their daughter, Cathryn.
Back in Williston Park, Carol started getting involved at St Aidan’s Parish. She began with ironing the altar clothes. Went on to teaching religion at CCD. She was one of the first female Eucharistic Ministers and a founding member of the Charismatic Prayer Group.
Carol did return to work as an administrative assistant, eventually working in the HR department at Molloy College. While there she pursued a study in Theology.
After retiring, she went back to teaching at CCD, working with kids who had special needs.
She also helped to found and run a Long Island chapter of the Voice of the Faithful.
Carol passed peacefully in her home of 60 years after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
She is survived by her husband Joseph; her sons and daughter-in-laws James & Margaret, Peter & Janet, Richard & Cathy; her daughter and son-in-law Cathryn & John Mezzo; her 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers please donate to The Michael J. Fox Foundation:
