Lucia Chiaromonte

On January 26th, 1934, Lucia Trotti was born in Sannicandro di Bari, to Donato and Porzia Trotti. Lucia grew up in Italy alongside her older sister, Teresa, and younger brother, Pietro.
Years later, Lucia married the love of her life, Leonardo Chiaromonte. The two became acquainted through hand written letters and married by Proxy in 1954. After three years of marriage, they had their first child, Santina. In 1966, they welcomed their second child, Nicola, and in 1968, welcomed their third and final child, Donato. Over the years, the family created endless memories of happiness, laughter and joy.
Given how family oriented Lucia and Leonardo were, it was no surprise that they were thrilled to become grandparents in 1983 with the birth of their first grandson, Fortunato. In the years to follow, “Nonna Lu” took pride in helping to raise her other grandchildren; Anna-Marie, Lenny, Krista, Leora, Lao, and Liam. Lucia played such a vital role in each of their lives and created fond memories that they will cherish forever.

Although the above captures the timeline of her life, the individual that she was is most worthwhile describing. Lucia is the strongest woman one might ever know. A woman who never took no for an answer. She never backed down from any fight, much less the one for her life. For years, she defied medical odds. She proved countless physicians wrong. So much so, that they stopped giving her timelines. “We’ve never seen someone like her,” they would say. Everywhere she went, she made a statement that was true to her character, she was on no one’s schedule but her own. She would leave when it was her time, not when they said she would.
Lucia by definition means “graceful” and that is exactly how she passed on the morning of March 12th, 2017. She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren as she peacefully made her transition to heaven to be reunited with her husband once again.
Though words cannot begin to describe how much she will be missed by us, she is finally at peace and free from suffering. Lucia is not only a woman who will be remembered forever, but one who is impossible to forget.
Love you forever Ma/Nonna Lu.