Obituary of Mildred Scognamiglio Patella

Mildred Scognamiglio Patella was born in Hoboken, NJ on February 22, 1919. She was the third of seven children of Italian immigrants who thrived in this country. She worked at various jobs as a young women but one of her favorite activities was singing. She met her future husband Carmen Patella in an Italian singing club (Coro dItalia). They were married in March 1944 while he was serving active duty in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in the Middle East and Europe during the first year of their marriage and they communicated with daily Love letters. As Frank Sinatra, her old Hoboken neighbor sang, Fairy-tales can come true… After the war, they began a family and were devoted parents to their five children; Nina, Carmen, Maria, Christopher and Gerald. They lived first in Hoboken, then Jersey City and finally down to the Jersey Shore. Millie retired from a long career with Sears & Roebuck and was active in church, community activities, cooking, gardening and organizing large & loud family gatherings. She was a master seamstress who displayed her talents in her home and clothing designs. Mildred was a lifelong lover of classical art who enjoyed drawing, painting and art history. She pursued professional studies of art in college as an adult. Millie was always ahead of the trend, doing yoga, exercising and taking daily walks before work. Following the death of her husband Carmen, Sr. in 1999, she resettled in Boone, North Carolina. Millie and her widowed sister-in-law, Helen, lived independently until they settled into Appalachian-Brian Estates later in life. She is survived by 5 children and their partners; Nina & Jane, Carmen & Patricia, Maria & Eric, Chris & Diana, Gerald & Gina; 7 grandchildren & partners; Lani & Sean, Celena & Nate, Nike & Ann-Marie, Emily & Ty, Saedra & Nat, Kayla, Anthony, and 6 great-grandchildren; Josie, Devon, Max, N J, Noah, & Kirra. There are also numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. A private Family service will be held in Blowing Rock and interment of remains will be in Middletown, New Jersey. The family suggests memorials to Medi Home Health & Hospice, 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be shared at the website www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Patella family.