Life Story for Carmela Frances Falco
Carmela Frances Angelica Gilligan Falco—or “Bubby,” as she was best known—departed for her final trip home during the early morning hours of February 26, 2023. She was 85 years old.
Bubby was born August 29, 1937 and raised in Brooklyn, the daughter of Salvatore Angelica and Jennie Geraci. At the age of 20, she married James Nicholas Gilligan, and they later became the proud parents of two boys, Thomas, born in 1962, and James, born in 1965. Bubby cherished her extended family and formed an especially strong bond with her youngest aunt and godmother Frances Angelica Dolise. In 1974, Bubby and her family bought a home and moved to Woodhaven. They grew to love the neighborhood. She became a devoted lifelong member of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, and she later began her career as a US Postal Service clerk. In 1982, Bubby married her second husband, Victor Falco, who passed away in 2021.
Throughout her life, Bubby shared her love selflessly—she was renowned for tending to the welfare of others before seeing to her own needs. She loved animals almost as much as she loved her family; she had a fondness for butterflies and sunflowers (just about all plants, really); she pioneered the use of the smiley face emoji (🙂), which adorned every envelope and greeting card she mailed; and no pastime pleased her more than crocheting.
Bubby is survived by her sons, James and Thomas; her daughter-in-law, Damarys; her three granddaughters, Jennifer (Gilligan) Caceres, BettyAnn (Gilligan) Cwalinski, and Gabriella Gilligan; and her two great-grandchildren, Isabelle Caceres and Mason Cwalinski.
Bubby was born August 29, 1937 and raised in Brooklyn, the daughter of Salvatore Angelica and Jennie Geraci. At the age of 20, she married James Nicholas Gilligan, and they later became the proud parents of two boys, Thomas, born in 1962, and James, born in 1965. Bubby cherished her extended family and formed an especially strong bond with her youngest aunt and godmother Frances Angelica Dolise. In 1974, Bubby and her family bought a home and moved to Woodhaven. They grew to love the neighborhood. She became a devoted lifelong member of St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, and she later began her career as a US Postal Service clerk. In 1982, Bubby married her second husband, Victor Falco, who passed away in 2021.
Throughout her life, Bubby shared her love selflessly—she was renowned for tending to the welfare of others before seeing to her own needs. She loved animals almost as much as she loved her family; she had a fondness for butterflies and sunflowers (just about all plants, really); she pioneered the use of the smiley face emoji (🙂), which adorned every envelope and greeting card she mailed; and no pastime pleased her more than crocheting.
Bubby is survived by her sons, James and Thomas; her daughter-in-law, Damarys; her three granddaughters, Jennifer (Gilligan) Caceres, BettyAnn (Gilligan) Cwalinski, and Gabriella Gilligan; and her two great-grandchildren, Isabelle Caceres and Mason Cwalinski.