Carmela Reale SaoBento, 83: "Aunty Mella" to Friends, Power Hostess, Cook

Carmela Reale SaoBento, known as "Mel" or "Aunty Mella" to her friends and family, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 at home with her daughter's family in New York, where she had been living since 2012. She was the wife of the late RI Representative and Attorney, Augusto W. SaoBento.

She is survived by her son and daughter, Dennis Sao Bento and wife Marie of Warren, and Cara Boyce and her husband, John of Pelham Manor, NY, and her beloved nephews and nieces. Mel was the proud grandmother of four, Alex and Olivia SaoBento and Jack and Katelyn Boyce. Daughter of Dominic Reale and Maryann Ricci, she was the last surviving sister of the late Joseph Reale, Virginia Fournier, Phyllis Reale, and Anna Sturcken.

Mom's family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her loving "Angels," Margaret Wiltshire and Ena Sands, whose devoted and dedicated care enabled her to live her last years with dignity and in comfort. She and all who loved her will be forever grateful to these two wonderful women for their compassionate labors of love.

Born September 11, 1930 in Providence, Mom had a full life working as a hairdresser at Watts Salon on the Upper East Side of Providence, and as a dance instructor for Arthur Murray as a single woman, but especially enjoyed her time with Dad in Pompano Beach. Her best job was "mom", and she mothered everyone, beginning with the loves of her life, her husband and children, and extending to her entire extended family and huge circle of friends. She believed in sharing her love through food and had a passion for baking and cooking for upwards of 40 people even when there were only 10 coming. She would have Christmas Eve parties at her home in East Providence and Touisset that would entail cooking for two weeks prior. The events would last from 4pm Christmas Eve to 5am the next day with the attendees going to Midnight mass and returning for a second helping (or a third). 

She will be most missed for her meatballs, butterballs, cheesecake and apple pie, and her infectious laugh, which kept her sous chef and helper "Gus" smiling while cleaning up the mess. The word in Heaven is that St. Peter has no clue what to do with the four sisters together again. Their laughter is keeping everyone up. 

At Mom's personal request, there will be no evening wake. Visitation hours will be Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 in the morning prior to the funeral from 9am until 10:15am at the Rebello Funeral Home, 901 Broadway, East Providence. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am at St. Luke's Catholic Church on Washington Rd, Barrington, RI. Burial will follow at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox organization for Parkinson's disease in memory of Carmela SaoBento.