Luigina Cesario

Luigina Cesario (née Alfano), Age 95

It is with enormous sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Luigina Cesario (née Alfano), who entered peacefully into heaven, surrounded by her family, on April 27, 2025—Sunday of Divine Mercy—at the age of 95. Our cherished matriarch leaves behind a legacy of love, enormous strength, and unwavering devotion to family that will forever live on in our hearts.

Luigina was born on January 29, 1930, in the small town of Rovella, in the province of Cosenza, Italy. On that very same day, the love of her life, Pasquale Cesario, was also born in Rovella—and from that moment, a fairytale began—one that not even Hollywood could have written. Together, they built a life grounded in love, faith, and sacrifice.

After living in Rovella, Luigina and Pasquale courageously left their homeland and journeyed to America with their four children, celebrating their 41st birthdays on the very day they arrived in this beautiful country. Though they did not speak the language and had never seen this land before, they came with dreams and the will to work tirelessly to build a better life. They eventually settled in Norridge, where they created a home that became a little heaven for all who were lucky enough to visit. They had  enough of everything that truly mattered—respect, faith, and so much love.

Beloved wife of the late Pasquale Cesario, Luigina was the devoted mother of Cenzina (the late Carmine) Aiello, Corrado (Antonietta) Cesario, Maria Francesca (Luigi) Spilotro, and Ivana (Frank) Di Piero.

She was the loving grandmother of Michael (Jennifer) Aiello, Rosa (Sam) Scianna, Gina (Orlando) Pastore, Rubina (Eric) Puchalski, Adriana (Garrett) Pfeiffer, Melissa (Tony) Campobasso, Stefania (Giancarlo) Presta, Vincenzo Luigi Spilotro, Marcella Carmela Di Piero, and Rocco Pasquale Di Piero; and the proud great-grandmother of Giuliana, Alessandro, Emilia, Matteo, Luca, Lorenzo, Luciano, Dominic, Mia, Anthony, Gianni, Antonio, Nico, Angelo, Luciano, Antonella, Alessia, Angelica, and Giancarlo.

Luigina was a woman of deep faith—a devoted Catholic who prayed the Rosary daily, she was devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, San Francesco di Paola and Padre Pio.  She was immensely proud of the family she and Pasquale created. Her life was rich in tradition, warmth, and the aroma of her unforgettable home-cooked meals. A nurturer by nature, her home was a sacred space—where love and faith were served daily, where no one was judged only praised.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Pasquale; her parents Francesco Alfano and Maria Caterina Rizzo; and her siblings Amorondo, Medardo, Italina, Annunziata, Umberto, Marietta, Antonio, Gaetana, Rosario, Esterina, and Ottavio.

Luigina was loved by many and made countless friends over the years. Her kindness, dignity, and joyful spirit touched everyone who had the blessing of knowing her. She will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and honored as a remarkable woman who always put what truly mattered first—faith, family, and love.

As she always said, “I love everyone.”

Rest in peace, Mamma, and continue your fairytale with Papà in heaven—because your love has no end.

Visitation Thursday, May 1, 2025 from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge, IL 60706.  Funeral Services begin Friday, 11:30 a.m. at the Funeral Home and will proceed to St. Eugene Church, for Funeral Mass at 12:30 p.m.  Entombment All Saints Cemetery, Immaculate Heart of Mary Mausoleum.

For info: 708-456-8300 or www.cumberlandchapels.com.