Catalano, Ida S.

DELMAR- Ida Santa Catalano (nee Muscolino), 88, of Delmar, NY, entered eternal life on August 19, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Italy, she was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Agatina Muscolino and the beloved wife of 56 years of the late Anthony J. Catalano.

Mrs. Catalano came to the United States in November, 1947 as a student at the College of St. Rose, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish in 1952. She earned a Master of Arts degree in English and Spanish from the State University of New York in 1961. In 1961, she began her 29-year career as a Spanish teacher, first at Columbia High School in the East Greenbush School District, then at Bethlehem Central School District. She remained on the faculty of the Bethlehem Central High School from 1966 until her retirement in 1990. A member of the New York State Teachers Association, she served as advisor to the Spanish Club and chaperoned several student trips to Spain during her teaching career. Fluent in three languages, she also tutored and taught Italian. She was a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Delmar since 1952.

Mrs. Catalano is survived by her beloved children Rosemary C. Dillon (Mark) of Wayne PA; Joseph M. Catalano, Ronald S. Catalano (Carolyn) and Dr. Robert A. Catalano (Madeline), of Delmar NY. She was the loving grandmother of Jocelyn Dillon, Maria Conophy (Daniel), Gina Sands (Joshua), Christopher Catalano (Elizabeth), Ruth Egan (Phillip) and Ronald Catalano, Christine Catalano, Thomas Catalano, Matthew Catalano; and the dear great-grandmother of Elizabeth Teresa Sands and Anna Rose and Dominic Anthony Catalano.

She also is survived by her brothers Anthony Muscolino (Justine) of Glen Allen, VA and Emilio Muscolino (Priscilla) of Gloversville, NY and her sisters-in-law Anita and Teresina Muscolino, of Italy, in addition to 15 nieces and nephews, 23 great-nieces and nephews, and several cousins. She was predeceased by her brothers Anthony, Mario, Richard, Concetto and her twin brother Joseph, all of Italy.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday August 23 at 9:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 45 Adams Pl., Delmar. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing and a Vigil for the Deceased from 4-7 p.m. Monday, August 22nd at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, Inc. 490 Delaware Ave., Albany. Interment will be at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Colonie NY.

Contributions in Mrs. Catalano’s memory may be made to the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life, Diocese of Albany, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany NY 12203.