Carmella "Honey" Critelli, age 100, passed away April 22, 2013 at the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center. She was born July 8, 1912 to Anthony and Kathryn Loffredo Franceschine and lived in Fort Des Moines during her younger years.
She married John Vincent Critelli in November, 1933 and they moved to the Harding Road area. They spent many years owning and operating Italian style restaurants in the city. Their first restaurant was called "Johnnie Critelli's Spaghetti". They went on to open four other restaurants and clubs in downtown Des Moines and on Harding Road. The Tropical Lounge and the Chesterfield Club played host to many celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Perry Como, Pearl Bailey and Victor Borge.
After the restaurant era, they started a frozen pizza business. When her husband passed away in 1967, Carmella continued in the business until 1972, and then worked at their son Joe's restaurant, "The Husker."
Carmella loved cooking, especially spaghetti and meatballs. She shared her talent in the restaurants and at home where the family would gather on Sundays to enjoy her delicious meals. Her grandson, who shared her birthday, began to call her "Honey" at a young age, and she has been known as "Honey" to everyone ever since. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and spoiling all of her grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Carmella is survived by her son, John D. Critelli, of Johnston, IA; daughters-in-law, Connie Critelli of Warsaw, MO, Dee Boehmke of Waukee, IA and Meryem Merritt, Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren Jeffrey (Johnna) Critelli of Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Riley) Larson, of Clive, IA, Kathryn (Howard) Puterman, Henderson, NV; step-grandchildren, Brenda (Mike) Bridge, and Greg (Regina) Reish of Los Angeles, CA; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Lindsay Larson of Clive, IA and Anthony and Nicole Puterman of Henderson, NV. She was predeceased by her parents; husband; brother, Nick Franceschine, South Gate, CA and son, Joseph V. Critelli, Center Valley, CA.
Services will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Road, on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Woodland/St. Ambrose Cemetery in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, 5837 Winwood Dr., Johnston, IA 50131. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice and the staff and caregivers at Bishop Drumm, as well as her friend and roommate, Lucy Mueller, for their kind and loving support during the years Carmella was a resident.
She married John Vincent Critelli in November, 1933 and they moved to the Harding Road area. They spent many years owning and operating Italian style restaurants in the city. Their first restaurant was called "Johnnie Critelli's Spaghetti". They went on to open four other restaurants and clubs in downtown Des Moines and on Harding Road. The Tropical Lounge and the Chesterfield Club played host to many celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Perry Como, Pearl Bailey and Victor Borge.
After the restaurant era, they started a frozen pizza business. When her husband passed away in 1967, Carmella continued in the business until 1972, and then worked at their son Joe's restaurant, "The Husker."
Carmella loved cooking, especially spaghetti and meatballs. She shared her talent in the restaurants and at home where the family would gather on Sundays to enjoy her delicious meals. Her grandson, who shared her birthday, began to call her "Honey" at a young age, and she has been known as "Honey" to everyone ever since. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and spoiling all of her grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Carmella is survived by her son, John D. Critelli, of Johnston, IA; daughters-in-law, Connie Critelli of Warsaw, MO, Dee Boehmke of Waukee, IA and Meryem Merritt, Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren Jeffrey (Johnna) Critelli of Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Riley) Larson, of Clive, IA, Kathryn (Howard) Puterman, Henderson, NV; step-grandchildren, Brenda (Mike) Bridge, and Greg (Regina) Reish of Los Angeles, CA; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Lindsay Larson of Clive, IA and Anthony and Nicole Puterman of Henderson, NV. She was predeceased by her parents; husband; brother, Nick Franceschine, South Gate, CA and son, Joseph V. Critelli, Center Valley, CA.
Services will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Road, on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Woodland/St. Ambrose Cemetery in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, 5837 Winwood Dr., Johnston, IA 50131. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice and the staff and caregivers at Bishop Drumm, as well as her friend and roommate, Lucy Mueller, for their kind and loving support during the years Carmella was a resident.
Carmella "Honey" Critelli, age 100, passed away April 22, 2013 at the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center. She was born July 8, 1912 to Anthony and Kathryn Loffredo Franceschine and lived in Fort Des Moines during her younger years.
She married John Vincent Critelli in November, 1933 and they moved to the Harding Road area. They spent many years owning and operating Italian style restaurants in the city. Their first restaurant was called "Johnnie Critelli's Spaghetti". They went on to open four other restaurants and clubs in downtown Des Moines and on Harding Road. The Tropical Lounge and the Chesterfield Club played host to many celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Perry Como, Pearl Bailey and Victor Borge.
After the restaurant era, they started a frozen pizza business. When her husband passed away in 1967, Carmella continued in the business until 1972, and then worked at their son Joe's restaurant, "The Husker."
Carmella loved cooking, especially spaghetti and meatballs. She shared her talent in the restaurants and at home where the family would gather on Sundays to enjoy her delicious meals. Her grandson, who shared her birthday, began to call her "Honey" at a young age, and she has been known as "Honey" to everyone ever since. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and spoiling all of her grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Carmella is survived by her son, John D. Critelli, of Johnston, IA; daughters-in-law, Connie Critelli of Warsaw, MO, Dee Boehmke of Waukee, IA and Meryem Merritt, Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren Jeffrey (Johnna) Critelli of Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Riley) Larson, of Clive, IA, Kathryn (Howard) Puterman, Henderson, NV; step-grandchildren, Brenda (Mike) Bridge, and Greg (Regina) Reish of Los Angeles, CA; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Lindsay Larson of Clive, IA and Anthony and Nicole Puterman of Henderson, NV. She was predeceased by her parents; husband; brother, Nick Franceschine, South Gate, CA and son, Joseph V. Critelli, Center Valley, CA.
Services will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Road, on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Woodland/St. Ambrose Cemetery in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, 5837 Winwood Dr., Johnston, IA 50131. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice and the staff and caregivers at Bishop Drumm, as well as her friend and roommate, Lucy Mueller, for their kind and loving support during the years Carmella was a resident.
She married John Vincent Critelli in November, 1933 and they moved to the Harding Road area. They spent many years owning and operating Italian style restaurants in the city. Their first restaurant was called "Johnnie Critelli's Spaghetti". They went on to open four other restaurants and clubs in downtown Des Moines and on Harding Road. The Tropical Lounge and the Chesterfield Club played host to many celebrities including Ronald Reagan, Perry Como, Pearl Bailey and Victor Borge.
After the restaurant era, they started a frozen pizza business. When her husband passed away in 1967, Carmella continued in the business until 1972, and then worked at their son Joe's restaurant, "The Husker."
Carmella loved cooking, especially spaghetti and meatballs. She shared her talent in the restaurants and at home where the family would gather on Sundays to enjoy her delicious meals. Her grandson, who shared her birthday, began to call her "Honey" at a young age, and she has been known as "Honey" to everyone ever since. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and spoiling all of her grandchildren. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
Carmella is survived by her son, John D. Critelli, of Johnston, IA; daughters-in-law, Connie Critelli of Warsaw, MO, Dee Boehmke of Waukee, IA and Meryem Merritt, Des Moines, IA; her grandchildren Jeffrey (Johnna) Critelli of Las Vegas, NV, Julie (Riley) Larson, of Clive, IA, Kathryn (Howard) Puterman, Henderson, NV; step-grandchildren, Brenda (Mike) Bridge, and Greg (Regina) Reish of Los Angeles, CA; four great-grandchildren, Logan and Lindsay Larson of Clive, IA and Anthony and Nicole Puterman of Henderson, NV. She was predeceased by her parents; husband; brother, Nick Franceschine, South Gate, CA and son, Joseph V. Critelli, Center Valley, CA.
Services will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Road, on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Woodland/St. Ambrose Cemetery in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center, 5837 Winwood Dr., Johnston, IA 50131. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Hospice and the staff and caregivers at Bishop Drumm, as well as her friend and roommate, Lucy Mueller, for their kind and loving support during the years Carmella was a resident.
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