Rosaria "Sally" Guaragna - Obituary

osaria “Sally” Guaragna, age 93, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Marian’s Manor along the South River in Edgewater, Maryland. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, on November 17, 1930, to the late Salvatore and Mary Grace Sicurella. She married Frank Guaragna in Brooklyn, NY, on February 21, 1954. Sally and Frank lived most of their life in Mitchellville, MD, raising their four children. She dedicated much of her time volunteering as a member of the Ladies Sodality at St. Matthias Church. They cherished winter seasons spent at their ‘Palace in the Sky,’ a condominium in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The couple was married 45 years when Frank predeceased her in May 1999. During Sally’s early career, she worked in the school system, working with children with special needs. Later, she oversaw the management and operations of the museum store for the Freer Gallery of Art and the museum store for the Arthur Sackler Gallery, both part of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. She was proud of her professional accomplishments and shared her love and appreciation for beautiful jewelry, art, and unique items inspired by the museum’s collections. She also served as President of the Museum Store Association and was a member of the Christopher Columbus Lodge of the Sons of Italy. Sally was an amazing, self-taught cook who perfected many dishes and the art of the Italian cookie, passing down recipes her family continues as a Christmas Eve tradition year after year. She was and is the heart of our family, leaving behind a legacy of love and a bond that will be treasured for many generations. She is survived by her children, Camille Cimino and her husband, Steve; son, Al Guaragna, and his wife, Mary Ann; Sal Guaragna and his wife, Mary, and Marie Guaragna; ten grandchildren, Gina (Zack) Notes, Marisa (Casey) Weisman, Angela (Adam) Marsh, Alexandra (Seamus) Carey, Frank (Teresa) Guaragna, Nicholas (Lindsay) Beirne, Dominic Guaragna, Briana (Brandt) Schwer, Victoria (Mike) Jones, and Charlie Beirne; and seven great-grandchildren, Nico Notes, Luca Notes, Knox Notes, Colette Carey, Sloane Carey, Isla Weisman, Michael Jones III, and one great-grandchild on the way. Friends are invited to celebrate Sally’s life on Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Wednesday, April 17 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 515 Loch Haven Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens Mausoleum in Davidsonville, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.