Amelia Buffa

Amelia Buffa was born in Brooklyn on April 27, 1934, the daughter of Peter and Angelina Tagliavia (nee Camarda.) Amelia was 89.

After graduating from Erasmus Hall High School, Amelia took a secretarial position at General Electric in Manhattan. There, she enjoyed walking proudly in heels as well as suits that accentuated her 19-inch waist.

Amelia declined numerous potential suitors before meeting the love of her life, Frank Buffa, at a dance at the Hollywood Terrace in Brooklyn. He was on one side with his friends, she was on the other with hers, their eyes met, and the rest is history.

To her surprise, Frank took her to meet his parents promptly thereafter. When Amelia saw Mother Cabrini's image on the wall of the Buffa home, she knew Frank was the one.

They promptly became engaged, but respectfully delayed their wedding a year out of respect for Frank's mother, who passed away suddenly. 

The couple was married on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1957, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brooklyn.

Two years later, Amelia gave birth to the first of three daughters, Debra. 

The young couple bought their first and only house in Rosedale, N.Y.

While living there, Amelia, known as "Emily," gave birth to Denise and Diane. 

Amelia lived her dream, dedicating her life to her roles as wife and mother. However, she was not too proud to return to the workforce to support her family when Frank was seriously injured on the job.

Amelia had the gift of hospitality. 

Family and friends flocked to her home, where there was always a good party -- or simply a good meal. It was the hub, where surprise visitors were always greeted with a smile, a hug, and a squeal of delight.

Amelia, a woman of faith, was a devout churchgoer and prayer warrior. 

As a young wife and mother, she was devoted to Mother Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint. Amelia took her young family on pilgrimages to the St. Frances Cabrini Shrine NYC, always bearing freshly baked goods for the nuns running the gift shop. 

There, Amelia met an elderly sister who had known the patron saint of immigrants before she passed in 1917. Amelia and Mother Cabrini's friend became fast pen pals -- and mailed missives to each other for years.

Amelia attended St. Plus X Church in Rosedale, The Bridge Church in Malverne, N.Y., and most recently, Trinity Church in Syosset, N.Y.

Later on in life, Amelia took to closing  phone conversations by saying, "May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and give you peace." [Numbers 6:24-26]

She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her three daughters; and her brother, Jerry, and his wife, Jo-Anne, on April 18, 2024.

Besides her daughters, Debra Rotolo of Rosedale, N.Y., Denise Buffa of Milford, Conn., and Diane Buffa of Amityville, N.Y., she is survived by five grandchildren, Michael Aaron Rotolo, Cole Simon Bartoli, Tessa Jolie Bartoli, Nina Angelina Bartoli, and Bella Caterina Bartoli, her brother, Jerome "Jerry" Tagliavia (Jo-Anne) of Spring Hill, Fla., many nieces and nephews, and two godchildren.

She was predeceased by Francis "Frank" Joseph Buffa, her husband of more than 50 years, and her sister, Nina Seligman.

A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2024, at Lieber Funeral Home in Valley Stream, N.Y.

A final farewell will be at the funeral home 10 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024, followed by a procession past Amelia's home and then to Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum in Melville, N.Y.

Amelia will be laid to rest on what would have been her 90th birthday.