Madeline Antoinette Savarino Vicari's Obituary
Madeline Antoinette Savarino Vicari passed away peacefully Sunday, October 27, 2024 at the age of 90 with family at her side.
Madeline was the youngest child born to Anthony J. and Anna Gagliano Savarino and raised in the Bucktown area of New Orleans. In 1956, she met Joseph, originally from Independence, La. in Harahan, Louisiana. Madeline (with her almost 8-year-old daughter Gail Ybos) married Joe in June 1959. They later moved to Covington in September 1965 when Joe began working for his brother at Jake’s Body Shop. In the early 1970s, Madeline and Joe hosted the first St. Joseph’s Altar in Covington and introduced their friends and acquaintances to the Italian celebration each of their families had celebrated for many years. Their small home on West 25th Avenue was overflowing with family, friends and strangers who have remembered that event for many years. Madeline and Joe devoted much time and cooking talents to building St. Joseph Altars annually in Covington. Later, Madeline (and at times daughter Shari) worked tirelessly for 25 years with the St. Anselm Catholic Church Altar Society in Madisonville. It was her homemade spaghetti “gravy” that was always praised and remembered to this day. Madeline also spent 30 years as a top selling Avon representative beginning in the early 70’s continuing the route of her recruiter Jeanne Comenge. During this time, she and Joe owned and operated V & W Washateria and Dry Cleaners on Boston Street (currently the Subway Sandwich shop) from 1975 - 1989. Her constant hard work was rewarded with great honor when she witnessed all four children graduate from college. She kept her promise to St. Joseph for this answered prayer by literally kissing the steps of St. Peter’s Church in gratitude when her son Chris graduated LSU in 1990!
Although Madeline spent her life working very hard at everything she did, she loved to celebrate the events of her family’s lives by being at every event she could attend. She survived breast cancer in 1995 and became a faithful participant in the Relay for Life events held in Covington with her daughter Maria who was a team captain for many years.
Madeline is survived by her daughters Maria V. O’Keefe (Gary, Sr.) and Shari V. Vidrine (Eddy), her son Christopher J. Vicari and her sister Lucille Florence Savarino Clarke from Lake Worth, Florida. She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren James “Jimmy” Wilkins (Sherry Frank), Gina Wilkins Taylor (Sean), Chad Wilkins (Christine Hilleren), Sarah O’Keefe Beerbohm (Kyle), Gary O’Keefe, Jr. (Sophia Izaguirre), Hunter and Jonathan Vidrine, and Kenneth, Courteney Parsons (Sam), Kaitlin, Christina and Korinne Vicari. She was the great grandmother of Amanda Wilkins Cochran (Jacob) and Emily Wilkins, Gianna Taylor, Luca Wilkins, Michael and Daniel Beerbohm, and Mila Madeline, Max and Maeve O’Keefe.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years and one day Joseph (2009), parents Anthony and Anna (Gagliano) Savarino, brother Frank Joseph Savarino (Helen Manalla), sister Anna S. Madera (Johnny), daughter Gail Ann Ybos Wilkins and husband Jim E. Wilkins, and precious infant granddaughter Leslie Colleen O’Keefe.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E. 19th Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:00 Noon with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until service time. Interment will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, 2280 W 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Please sign the guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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