Carole Edythe (Merenda) Ciaio

It is with deep love and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Carole Edythe Ciaio, a force of nature if there ever has been one and a beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend. Born and raised in Great Neck, New York, Carole lived a full life of laughter, love, and community. A woman of many talents, she often referred to herself as an “advanced beginner” in many pursuits, yet her drive and competitive spirit were only matched by her desire to share her gifts with the people that she loved.

Carole devoted much of her professional life to education as a French and ESL teacher on Long Island. Carole was cherished by her students not only for her humor and wit, but also for her unfailing kindness and ability to reach out to even the unlikeliest of people. Her passion for teaching others never faded even in retirement. She shared her love of the French language with her grandchildren before they had even mastered English and became a beloved Mahjong teacher to a wide community of friends.

Her bright and fun-loving spirit could be seen not only through her love of Mahjong and games like Canasta, Gin, and Rummy, but also through the ceaseless and joyous energy with which she lived her daily life. Carole had a brilliant sense of humor and an unmatched gift for conversation, able to talk to anyone, anywhere, and make them feel welcome. Her unselfconscious joy was infectious to all those around her - she sang and danced like no one was watching, she joked and laughed with perfect strangers as if she’d known them for years, and she created communities wherever she went simply by being her intensely lovable self.

A cancer survivor, Carole embodied resilience through life’s greatest challenges. However, her true pride and joy was her family. She was the devoted wife of Frank Ciaio, Jr. (deceased), and a loving mother to four children: Carole-Jay Ciaio Weicht (David), Frank Ciaio III, Michael Ciaio (Kristen), and Jonathon Ciaio (Caryn). She was also a proud and deeply cherished grandmother, lovingly referred to as Mamie, to eleven grandchildren: Ryan, Julia, Natalie, Eric, Nicholas, Jason, Danielle, Carson, Reese, Parker, and Chase.

A memorial service will be held at Masonic Village of Sewickley at 11 a.m. on August 9th. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org) to support mental illness research - a cause close to Carole’s heart.

Carole will be remembered for her boundless capacity for love, her spirit, and the laughter that she brought everywhere she went. Carole leaves behind a life beautifully lived and deeply treasured.

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