Margaret Castelli Bracaglia
January 5, 1931 ~ August 15, 2015
Margaret Castelli Bracaglia, 84 of Weirton died Saturday August 15, 2015, due to injuries sustained during an automobile accident.
She was born January 5, 1931 in Pitcarin, PA where she lived until the age of 6 months when her family returned to Italy. She was a daughter of the late Eusanio and Ida (Barnabei) Rasicci. She was also preceded in death by her first husband Mario Castelli, her second husband Lou Bracaglia, brother Ennio Rasicci and two sisters, Sestina and Loradana Rasicci.
Margaret wanted to live the true American dream so she traveled here on a boat to Ellis Island with her brother without a job or a lot of money. She worked tirelessly to build a life for herself and eventually her family.
She worked as a seamstress and a cook for the Hancock County School System. Margaret was a very religious woman and was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church. She also belonged to her card club for over 40 years. She loved cooking for everybody and especially enjoyed spending time with her family who meant the world to her.
She is survived by her children Ronald (Wendy) Castelli of Weirton and Sil (Paul) Stevens of Weirton, step-children Donna (Alan) Fidak of Toronto, Gloria (Don) Wallace of FL. and Marylou (Jack) Powis of FL., grandchildren Ryan (Melissa) Stevens, Sean Stevens, Megan (Michael) Caruso, Kaitlin (Matt) Karpinski, Kandice Castelli and Reno Castelli, step-grandchildren Jason (Nikki) DiLoretta, Blair (Nicole) Fidak, Michael (Hope) Lamantia and Gina (Lucian) McClendon, great-grandchildren Rowan, Greyson and Claire Stevens and Nixon and Krew Karpinski, great-step-grandchildren Brady Fidak, Rachel, Sydney and Enzo Lamantia, Luc McClendon and Caleb , Sienna and Sam DiLoretta, brother Gabrele Rasicci and sisters Maria Clementoni and Laura Settepanella, sister-in-law Anita Rasicci and Aunt Anna Pellegrino as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins and friends whom she loved dearly.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 1-8PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10AM on Tuesday at St. Paul Catholic Church. The Reverend Fr. Larry Dorsch will officiate.
Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 140 Walnut St., Weirton, WV 26062.
Funeral Home:
Greco Hertnick Funeral Home
3219 Main Street
Weirton, WV
US 26062
My deepest sympathy to Margaret’s family. Truly a special lady and definitely all about family. We shared many conversations while I waited on her….mostly about what she was fixing and how many where coming over to eat. Prayers to all and I will miss getting her order ready for the antipasta.
My deepest sympathy to Aunt Margaret’s family. I never got to meet all of you, but Aunt Margaret I did know, she was a strong happy woman. She came to my home many times with some family members. And boy could she cook-!!! She always came with food—-!!! No one would ever starve with Margaret around——–!! I will miss your visits Aunt Margaret. I know your with Angels, happy and cooking. RIP Love, Stella Rosko
How sad to read of the passing of Margaret. She was my neighbor and seamstress a truly wonderful Christian woman. Our deepest sympathy. Al & Veda
Rest in Peace my dear friend and may you shine in the Lord’s Light!!
Deepest sympathies to the Castelli, Stevens and Rasicci Families. So sorry to hear of your loss. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. The Gurskey Family
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family through this heartbreaking time. There’s nothing I can say that will ease the pain yall are feeling. I just wanted you to know my family in Texas is praying for your family in W.Va. Be encouraged to know that God holds her in his arms and Peace is her covering. Please accept our condolences from TX on the loss of your Mom and my God Mother ..I wish I could gather the right words to make your pain less and offer you some comfort.You are in our thoughts and prayers
Ron, Wendy and Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I was always so happy to see your Mom in Church; I will miss her very much. We take comfort in the promise that our loved one now rests with Our Lord. But, in your Mom\’s case, that sentiment surpasses promise and becomes a fact! God rest her always.
Dear Castelli family (and it’s large), we were so sad to hear about dear Margaret’s passing. We know this is a difficult time for all of you, but we’re sure you are in peace knowing that she is with God and all family members. Margaret was an exceptional lady and nobody can ever replace the joy, compassion, love, cooking, sewing, and work ethic that she brought to this world. We loved Margaret and even though we didn’t see her a lot recently, we had the great opportunity to visit with her this past Christmas at Laura’s house. It was fun being with the “Italian Ladies” while they were playing cards. We love you all and wish we could be there with you this week, but please know that we are praying for all of you during this tough time. Please rest as much as you can. God Bless!
Love, Frank, Sue, Alyssa, Tre’ LaRosa
Ron, Wendy and family, we are so sorry for your loss. I got to know Margaret well when working with her at the kitchen. What a sweet, caring, thoughtful lady. My most outstanding memory of Margaret was, when I was pregnant with Tommy, and suffering terrible morning sickness, we had to each wash like 10 giant sheet pans when we oven fried the chicken. It was a job no one enjoyed but was made easier by everyone doing their share, she came over to me that day and sweetly said, “Catherine, I washed you pans for you.” That is the kind of person she was, I will never forget that about her. I will miss seeing her in Church. I am sure she will be terribly missed by you all. Tom, Tommy and Catherine.
My deepest sympathies to family, Margaret was a beautiful person with enormous talents, generosity, and kindness. She was a big influence on me in my young life and I will always remember her sweet spirit, her wonderful food, and her great talent as a seamstress. So grateful I had the privilege to know her. RIP
Dear Sil, Ronnie and all loved ones of Margaret, we lost an angel, but the heavens are sure celebrating with their newest cook and seamstress! Can you imagine how happy she is??? Not even two weeks ago, I sat beside your mom at the ladies card club group at the Greek Restaurant in Weirton. She was talking about her fish order and was wanting bread in the Greek restaurant, but they served her pita bread, in her cute Italian accent she asked me what to do with that and we started laughing– we wanted our darn Italian bread. Next, we started talking about her sisters that passed away when they were young and I asked her detailed questions about the one that got hit by the school bus and then the other sister who passed away with leukemia.Little did I know that would be the last time I spoke to her, but you know your mom, our conversation was sealed with a kiss and a big hug. It is truly a treasured moment in time with all of my mom’s Italian ladies friends and relatives, what perspective they give on life and the work ethics, oh my! Your mom hemmed some clothes for me, and as usual, would not take a dime, so I left her a couple of rolls of quarters for her card games, actually, I had to hide them, because she wouldn’t take them. I hope all of the wonderful memories and stories will give you all comfort in the days and months ahead. You all have some tough shoes to fill and now all of you will have to share what she taught you and her memory will live on forever. My heart breaks for all of you. She will be missed! Sending much love and prayers in this difficult time.
LINDA & I WISH TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF YOUR LOVED ONE YOUR FAMILY WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS.
The world is a lesser place without Margaret; she was a light to us all and an inspiration to love and give with an open mind and heart. Love you.
Sil and Ronnie and Family, so sorry to hear of your Mothers passing, just to let you know how special she was to me..She made me all my clothes and did a beautiful job, she also worked for me in the Food Service of Hancock County Schools, and let me say never complained and did every thing with a smile…If we only had more like her what a beautiful world this would be…she worked hard for her CROWN and she will wear it PROUDLY I am sure of that..Blessing To All Her Family….she left us with a lot of MEMORIES…..
To my family, especially Sil and Ronnie.
Losing Margaret on this earth is losing a light worker of love. She gave so much of her love and caring through her works of art, whether food or clothes or card night or conversations. She will be so missed by so many. But her love remains and the thoughts of her goodness will always be alive in those she cared for.
Know that I am present in spirit and though I am sorry I cannot be there, I know Margaret is still caring for each of us and helping us through our pain.
One time she told me: We don’t know what things look like until we go through them. Because she was older than me and had already gone through my age, she knew what I was going through but I had yet to learn what an older person goes through because I have not been there yet. This was her sage advice to help me learn what my mother was going through as she aged. Priceless!
So, I hear her words today. She knows what we are going through because she has dealt with loss. We don’t know what she is going through now because we are still here on earth. But I imagine, with all the things she taught me about her faith, that she is right where she wants to be! Looking down on us and saying “One day, when you are where I am, you will understand.”
Sending love, support and comfort.
Theresa
I was so upset to learn of “Aunt” Margaret’s passing, and I am so sorry that I could not be there in person to say goodbye.
She was a light, blessing and inspiration to us all. I’m sure you’ve heard many stories from so many people over the past few days about Margaret’s kindness and generosity. These just go to prove how great of a person she was and how many lives she’s touched over the years. She truly made the world a better place!
She loved her family and friends so much that she continued to share her gifts of sewing and cooking long past the point when any other person would have hung up the apron. She never turned down a request to hem a pair of pants or sew a dress, and I will always marvel at the lengths she went to every holiday to make hundreds of stuffed olives, trays of tempala, and loaves upon loaves of garlic bread and buns. I hope that one day I will have 1/10th of that determination and resolve.
If there was ever a person guaranteed a place in heaven, it was Margaret. So, not only is she in a better place right now, her spirit will live on forever through her family and the legacy she’s instilled in us all.
Sending all my thoughts and prayers,
Mario
I can not express the deep sorrow I felt when I heard that Aunt Margaret passed away! I can not imagine our family without her! I know we all talk about her food and sewing, and they were second to none, but I will truly miss her spirit!!!
I know her love will live on in her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the rest of us!!! I pray everyday for just a piece of her strength!!!
She has definitely started the card game in heaven, and she has joined everyone who’s already at the table!!!
Love to Sil, Ron and the whole family and I am so sorry we could not be at her services!
What an amazing woman she was! Some of the earliest
memories that I can conjure up involve Aunt Margaret. At the ripe age
of two, I quickly was put to work in her garden. She taught me how to pick
tomatoes, and I then would shuttle baskets back to Uncle Tony in Grandma
Rasicci’s garage. How cool is that! 🙂
Aunt Margaret had an
unparalleled connection to the soil and never produced anything but
good, hearty, healthy food. That’s what I will remember her for the
most, along with her great big smile and undying affection for family
and friends. She was one of the most genuine, good-natured people I have
ever known.
It’s hard for me (as well as for many
of you) to accept a world without her in it. She’s been a staple for all
of us for so long. Nonetheless, our family is resilient, and we will
continue to thrive. She wouldn’t want it any other way.
I wish I could’ve been there for services, but I’m getting geared up for yet
another semester out west. My heart goes out to Aunt Sil, Uncle Ronnie,
Grandma Rasicci, as well as the rest of the Stevens, Castelli, Barnabei,
Ruffa, Settepanella, Restaneo, and Rasicci families. I love you all!!!
Sil and family……….I’m soo sorry that your Mom passed away…..I loved working with her……..and she was truely one of the very best cooks in the central kitchen……..May God wrap his loving arms around all of you ………….Starry
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. She was such a kind woman. She altered many dresses for me and always greeted me with “come anytime honey” and a warm hug. While she pinned my dresses and I stood still, she loved to brag about her children and grandchildren who she loved so evidently. Prayers to your family from mine. Nicole (stump) Sergent
To all of Margaret’s family–to lose someone as special as Margaret was is heartbreaking, but how blessed we are to have loved and been loved by this amazing woman! What energy, generosity, kindness, and sunshine she exhibited! Being with her was always rejuveniating because of her youthful spirit. Please know that the Asfour and Stump families extend our sympathy and are thinking of you though we could not attend visitation and funeral service.
Zia,
You were 1 in a Trillion. Who could ever take your place? You spent 60 years with my mother. My children never knew my father but you and Zia Laura were the closest people they had to him. You were ALWAYS there for my family for family talk, sewing, feeding us & did everything out of your heart with PURE LOVE and GENEROSITY. You were the family PSYCHIATRIST, SEAMSTRESS, CHEF, GARDNER, TEACHER, ROCK, ENCOURAGER….You had a PhD in common sense…You remember the TV Show Everyone Loves Raymond. It should have been called… Everyone Loves Margaret.
M…mendor of clothes & hearts
A…amazing chef
R…real hard worker
G…gifted, generous gardner
A…always served others
R…rock of our family
E….encouraged others
T….trusted God
You will be forever missed & cherished. We will try to keep your legacy alive. We know for sure you are wearing a CROWN of GLORY.
All our love forever & ever until me meet again ZIA
Gina, Tony, Anthony, Ginelle, Victor & Giana xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Zia Margarita you will always be a saint and legend. You live in our hearts forever and we all miss you terribly❤️🙏💕Many beautiful memories that we cherish
Zia Margarita you will always be a saint and legend. You live in our hearts forever and we all miss you terribly❤️🙏💕Many beautiful memories and moments with you