Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Nick Fantasia’s widow passes away

Carmella Fantasia, widow of Fairmont radio legend, educator and state legislator Nick Fantasia, passed away Monday, November 20.

Nick was a Marion County educator and principal for more than 40 years at Kingmont, Watson, Barnes and East Park elementary schools. He also was in the West Virginia State Legislature for 22 years.

He was founder of a family-owned radio station business which included the "Italian Hour," which he did for 57 years.

Carmella’s obituary:

Carmella Deloris Fantasia, 95, died at home on November 20, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Carmella was born in Rivesville on November 8, 1922, to George Simonetti and Maria Raspa Simonetti. 
After graduating from Rivesville High School, she went to work at the Westinghouse plant in Fairmont, where she proudly aided the war effort as a quality control inspector of radar tubes. 
She worked there until she married Nicola “Nick” Fantasia on June 18, 1949, and they started their family.

As she and Nick raised their family of five girls and one boy, Carmella demonstrated, by the life she lived. the importance she placed on family and striving to improve the world in which she lived.  She was PTA president, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, and the March of Dimes, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society campaign leader in Kingmont for many years. 
Carmella was a founding member of the Kingmont Women’s Auxiliary, for which she served for decades as president or treasurer as that dedicated group of women transformed Kingmont from a former coal camp to a warm, safe and loving community in which their children could thrive. 
Her home in Kingmont was, as six children grew, the center of projects and countless committee meetings for Y-Teens, Keyettes, Key Club and Student Council.  No child within her reach ever went hungry or failed to realize they could show up at her door at any time for a little kindness, served with sage advice and guidance.

Carmella was active for decades in Marion County Democratic Women.  She was a proud inductee into the WV Federation of Democratic Women’s Hall of Fame.  
She was member of the Immaculate Conception parish, where, in years gone by, she was a member and officer in the Ladies of La Salette Society.  For many years, she enjoyed the company of a group of tole painters, who were great companions to her.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Nick; her parents George and Maria (Raspa) Simonetti; her daughter Nicolena Fantasia; her son-in-law, Ira Atkinson, Jr.; two sisters, Teresa Costantino and Ralphine Tennant; and her brother, Frank Simonetti.
Carmella is survived by her son and four of her daughters and their families: Georgeanna Fantasia Atkinson and her son, Ira Anthony “Andy” Atkinson, and her daughter, Carmella Marie Atkinson Snodgrass; Rosemary Fantasia; Gina Fantasia and her husband, Drew M. Capuder, and their daughter Eleanor Rose Fantasia Capuder; Annette Fantasia; and Nick Louis Fantasia and his wife, Beth Fantasia, and their sons, Nicholas Vincent Fantasia and Dominic Louis Fantasia. Carmella is also survived by two great grandchildren Natalie Atkinson and Wyatt Snodgrass; her sister, Anita Simonetti Harbert, her sister-in-law, Carol Simonetti, and an array of nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews-- all of whom she treasured and loved to see gathered for family celebrations.

Carmella’s loving kindness, her indomitable strength, and her wise guidance will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday from 6-8:00 p.m. and Friday from 12-8:00 p.m. at Ross Funeral Home 801 Fairmont Avenue Fairmont. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Jojan Joseph, CST as Celebrant. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

The Rosary will be recited Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. led by Fr. Jojan Joseph,CST at the funeral home.

Contributions in her memory could be made to The Nicola and Carmella Fantasia Family Fund at the Fairmont State University Foundation.

Condolences may be sent to www.rossfh.com .

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