Remembering ‘a woman that did it all’

Posted

Pierina Carbone, a longtime Oceanside resident and co-owner of Pat’s Prime Meats in Malverne for more than 50 years, died on Jan. 2 of heart failure. She was 91.

Carbone, who was sometimes known as Perry, was born on Feb. 3, 1921 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, but emigrated to America with family in 1924. She briefly resided in Rockville Centre, family said, but later moved to Oceanside. She would go on to graduate from St. Agnes High School in Rockville Centre in 1939, and later marry Pasquale Carbone, also known as Pat, on Sept. 1, 1946 at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin. They would have seven children — Rosemarie, Joseph, Virginia, Frank, Patricia, Theresa and Juliana. Pierina had 16 grandchildren, and was a great grandmother of two, relatives said.

Pasquale opened Pat’s Prime Meats, a butcher shop on Church Street in Malverne, in 1946 — a business he and Pierina co-owned, said their daughter, Virginia Yako, 61, of Baldwin. The store was successful for many years, and business was always thriving, she said. Her mother co-owned the store for more than 50 years, and was in charge of book keeping and back office operations until the shop closed in December 2005.

“The business did very well — there were specialty meats, and there was catering,” Yako said, noting that her mother took great pride in the store. “She had her hands in everything — they were a great team together.”

Family and friends, Yako said, were “devastated” after learning of Pierina’s death. “He is heartbroken,” she said of her father. “He lost the love of his life.”

Many recalled Pierina as a kind, gentle individual, and someone who truly enjoyed life. And though she was a longtime Oceanside resident, relatives said she remained incredibly active in the Malverne community.

Pierina, who was an active member of St. Anthony’s Church in Oceanside, was also involved with Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne. She was a member of Lourdes’ Rosary Altar Society — a group that focused on promoting good fellowship among the women of the parish, and attended to the care of the altars and altar linens and priests’ vestments.

“Women also helped run all kinds of fundraisers for the church, and would also attend church together,” Yako said. “She was very loving, very soft spoken.”

Page 1 / 3