Anita M. Gargano

Anita M. Gargano, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away, Friday, December 14, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 A.M. Wednesday, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph, with Msgr. Michael Osborn officiating. Entombment will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday & from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Liturgical Prayers will be recited at 7:00 Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Berrien Community Foundation – Jamison M. Gargano Fund. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Gargano was born May 12, 1918 in Riverside, Michigan to Tony & Mary (Ramondo) Virgo. On June 7, 1941, she married Charles C. Gargano in Benton Harbor. Anita was employed at Heath Company in St. Joseph where she retired in 1983 after 25 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. In her spare time, Anita enjoyed entertaining friends and family with her cooking. She took particular pride in keeping her yard and in working in her rose garden. Anita knew how to work hard and taught her family how to have a good work ethic. Most of all, she loved her family was was affectionately know as “Beadeu” by her grandchildren. Mrs. Gargano is survived by two sons-Charles (Nancy) Gargano of Stevensville, Joseph (Judy) Gargano of Watervliet; three grandchildren-Joel M. Gargano, Jill Gargano-Elder, and Amber N. Gargano; and by three great-grandchildren, Olivia Elder, Sydney Elder, and Amelia Gargano. In addition to her parents, Anita was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; grandson, Jamison M. Gargano; and by three brothers and four sisters.