When Edna was about 18 she moved in with Aunt Sally, Uncle Bobby and her cousins, Linda, Kathy, Nicky and Bobby.  She was like a sister and daughter to them and they were more wonderful family for her to love.  Their family expanded to include more cousins and many new “nieces” and “nephews.” 

Edna and Red married and lived in Staten Island for many years.  They had a beautiful German Shepherd, Blaze, and a tank full of fish.  Edna would cook dinner for herself, Red AND Blaze.  If they had veal cutlet – Blaze had veal cutlet.  When Blaze passed away one of Edna’s nieces asked where Blaze had gone.  Edna didn’t want to upset her niece, so she said “Blaze went to Florida.”  That became the family quote – whenever someone passed away they went to Florida!  While living in Staten Island she started working for Joe and soon after Red worked for Joe also.  Joe and Michelle quickly became family to Edna and Red and stayed family.

Red and Edna bought a house in Breezy Point, NY in 1978.  They winterized the house and lived there for many, many happy years.  She loved the beach and all summer long would spend time on the beach with Kathy, Linda and all the kids.  It was a routine that Edna loved.  She get up in the summertime, put her swimsuit on and spend time sitting on the sand with the Kathy, Linda and any other folks who were visiting and splashing in the water with the kids. 

Edna and Red would drive out to Long Island to see Red’s family.  His brother, Dom, and sister in law, Amy, their nephew, Anthony, his wife, Diane and their daughters, Nicole and Andrea, their niece, Teresa, and her husband, Darryl.  Every summer Anthony, Diane, Nicole and Andrea would come spend a week with Edna and Red.  Edna didn’t get to meet Teresa and Darryl’s little boy, JD, in person but she was able to see photos of him and she’s watching over him every single day.  He’s got his own guardian angel now! 

Lots of Edna and Red’s travels were with Barbara and Vinny – many to gambling spots like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.  They’d hop in the car at a moments notice and head to A.C. for some fun times.  They’d all joke about the free rooms they received as comp.    Edna, Red, Barbara, Vinny, Butch, his wife, Marilyn, and their sister in law, Mary, would all get together every 6 weeks and do a “DiLauro Dinner.”  Someone would select a restaurant and they would all head there for a Sunday afternoon of family, fun and visiting!  Lots of times other family members would join in the visit.  

Edna and Red headed out to California a couple times and visited Richie and Mary, her brother and sister in law.  Another chance for Edna to mix her love for her family with her love to visit fun and interesting places.    When Richie came to visit Edna and Red she’d make sure she had his favorite foods (mozzarella cheese and provolone) because she loved to spoil her baby brother.  They even headed out to Arizona a few times to visit cousins, nieces, nephews and 2 great nieces.  Edna was always a very, very early riser and while visiting with Edna Marie and Willie she’d get up early and great-niece Kaitlyn would get up early and they’d spend time together reading stories.  Edna and Kaitlyn developed a special bond during those visits. 

And she spoiled everyone she loved!!  All her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and she loved them so much.  She bragged about every one of them!!  As a matter of fact, at any given time one of them would be her “favorite” – that depended on who was there and who was teasing her and who was giving her a hard time.  Sometimes, even a cousin could be a “favorite!”   You could always depend on having fun and laughing when you were with “Auntie!”   Edna laughed so much and so often!  She’d tell people “stop making me laugh, I’m tingling!” 

But her very, very favorite, FAVORITE is Red – her Anthony!  There is no way to describe the two of them together – they are truly a match made in heaven.  Edna would make plans or volunteer Red and he’d say “OK”!  The best was watching them in the car and Edna would be giving Red driving directions – she was amazing!!  And he’d just listen and say “OK” and drive wherever she told him to!  He took care of her and she took care of him.  They put the stars in each other’s eyes!!

Our last vacation to Edna and Red’s house was in August, 2004, and it was Edna, Willie, Kaitlyn, Hailey and me (Ginny).  What fun it was being her “favorite” for a moment, spending time on the beach, going to see the Statue of Liberty (Kaitlyn’s favorite), the Brooklyn Bridge and the “silly bitch” ( the Verrazano Bridge)!!!!  Edna Marie (god-daughter) called Edna and Red’s house Chez Pagano because of the wonderful and loving atmosphere there and we’d all call to make our “reservations”!  We’d be sure to book our time well because there were others who loved spending lots of time there – Missy and Scott, Anthony, Diane their daughters, Nicole and Andrea, Kathy, Shelly, their daughters, Kelly, Kim and Linda.    

Edna is now “in Florida” swimming in the biggest swimming pool in the sky with lots of loved relatives and friends.  No words could describe how much we all miss her but we will meet again and we can be her “favorites” forever more!   She is, and always, will be our “favorite”!