Obituary of Antoinette C. Hartigan

Antoinette (Nettie) Carello Hartigan, age 95, of Rome, New York, passed away on October 5, 2024 in Rome.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 11 am at St. Paul’s Catholic Church with Rev. Robert Kelly officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Nettie was born January 18, 1929, in Rome, NY, daughter of the late Illario Sr. and Rose Trophia Carello Manfrates.  She graduated from Rome Free Academy and later attended Wright State University in Dayton, OH. She married Eugene (Gene) Thomas Hartigan on April 11, 1953, in Rome.  The couple raised their three children with love and devotion to their faith.  Nettie was preceded in death by her husband Gene and daughter Donna Gene Hartigan Grover, sisters Marie Thompson and Katherine Rapin and brother-in-law Alden Rapin; brothers Larry Jr. and James, and step father Ralph Manfrates.

She is survived by her oldest son Robert in CA; son James and daughter-in-law Susan in AZ; and her grandchildren Colin and his wife Phoebe, Hannah, Kaleigh, and Hayden in AZ.  She is also survived by her sister Terry Hibbard, sister-in-law Susan Carello and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, some of whom were graciously by her side in her last days. Her cousin Pat Trophia faithfully took care of her for several years as her health declined, for which her sons will be forever grateful.

Nettie was an inspiration to all who knew her and reflected the light of Christ to everyone she met. She cared deeply for her family and friends and spent her life selflessly devoted to them.  She was humble, strong, and courageous with a great deal of common sense and boundless energy.  Despite her own suffering, she never complained, but always put her trust in God.  With Gene employed by the US Air Force, the family moved many times, from Rome to Midwest City, Oklahoma; Sacramento, California; Warner Robbins, Georgia; and Dayton, Ohio.  Along the way she made a multitude of friends with whom she kept in contact for many years.  Retiring back home in Rome, Nettie’s compassion for others was evidenced by her volunteer work with St. Paul’s Church, including the funeral ministry where her culinary skills shined.  For many years, she served alongside her best friend Katie Sharma and their fellow TWIG volunteers at Rome Hospital.  She worked in the hospital gift shop and made the rounds with the Hospitality Cart, visiting patients and brightening people’s days with her beautiful smile, kind words and sense of humor.  She was always by her husband’s side at the nursing home where he spent his final days, except when she would go ask the nurses which residents had not had a visitor in a while so she could go sit and talk with them.  Even after Gene passed, Nettie would still go to the nursing home to visit those who needed company.  Wherever she went – whether to the local McDonald’s with her morning Mass group or traveling across the country – Nettie made friends and spread laughter and joy to everyone.  Her passing leaves a gaping hole in the lives of those who love her, but we hold fast to the loving memories and look with joyful hope to the future when we will be together again for eternity.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome NY 13440.

You may view the obituary and send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.