Manager at Brooks Pharmacy
Published in the May 13, 2016 edition
WAKEFIELD — Emilia (DiFilippo) Caraglia, 77, a longtime resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 9, at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading.
Emilia was born in Chelsea on March 12, 1939, one of three children of the late Louis and Sadie (Anoli) DiFilippo. She graduated from St. Rose High School in Chelsea and was married to Anthony Caraglia in November of 1961. They settled in Wakefield in 1967 to raise three children and have made Wakefield their home since. Employed for 45 years, Emilia began as a store clerk and worked her up to become manager of the Brooks Pharmacy/Rite Aid in Melrose.
Emilia was raised in a large Italian family with her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins all residing in the same Chelsea neighborhood. Summertime was spent on Sebago Lake in Maine making many happy memories and building a lifelong appreciation for her family. Value of family, devotion to God and hard work were all instilled in her during her childhood years. She carried these traits with her throughout her entire life and passed them onto her own children.
Mrs. Caraglia worked hard to provide for her family and lived her faith daily. Not afraid to speak her mind, Emilia was known as a “firecracker.” She was strong and spirited but a woman who cared more about others than she did herself. She was a devoted parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish and prayerfully devoted herself as a Lector and member of the Women’s Guild. With her vacation time, she enjoyed trips with her sister either to Bermuda, or holiday shopping in New York City for her children and grandchildren. Other special occasions took her to Paris to see her daughter and home to her roots in Italy. When not working or at her beloved Church, she enjoyed her Melrose knitting group every Wednesday night. Any extra time she had, Emilia spent with her seven grandchildren.
Emilia was the beloved wife of Anthony Caraglia with whom she shared 54 years of marriage. She was the devoted mother of Joseph Caraglia and his wife Jeanne of Georgetown, Michael Caraglia and his wife Donna of Wakefield and Linda Machado and her husband Victor of Reading. Dear sister of Maria Caraglia and her late husband Joseph of Andover and Louis DiFilippo of Springfield, Va. Caring sister-in-law of Noreen Cataldo and her husband John of Newton and Maria Lombardi of East Boston. Cherished grandmother of Matthew, Katherine, Adrianna, Michael, Abby, Elizabeth and Grace. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Emilia’s life at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Thursday, May 12 at 10 a.m. before leaving in procession to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield for her funeral Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment at Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield. For online tribute visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
