Obituary of Carmela Belfiore

Carmela Belfiore (née Allocca), a longtime Madison resident, died peacefully on Friday, November 19, 2021. She was 76.

Carmela is survived by her two loving daughters, Anna McSherry and her husband, Brian of Madison & Carolina Stevens and her husband, John of Hailey, ID; one brother, Saverio Allocca and his wife Rosaria; three sisters, Maddalena Cerciello and her husband, Antonio, Concetta Sodano and her husband, Carmine & Giovannina D’Avino and her husband Giuseppe; five cherished grandchildren, Jack, Denali, Mia, Ryan & Cora; many loving nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.

Carmela was born in Marigliano (NA), Italy on April 1, 1945 to the late Pietro and Carolina Allocca. While in Italy Carmela began her training as a seamstress. She married Alfredo Belfiore and the couple emigrated to the United States, settling in Madison, NJ. Carmela and Alfredo welcomed two daughters into their family, Anna and Carolina. 

Carmela worked for many years as a self-employed seamstress. She was extremely talented, making beautiful clothing and other fine items for her clients. 

Carmela was a wonderful mother and was very active in the Madison community while her daughters were growing up. Her husband Alfredo passed away at a young age in 1977 and Carmela always did her absolute best to provide a good life for her family. She was delighted to become a grandmother and always cherished the time she was able to spend with her five grandchildren. 

Carmela was a woman of great faith and a longtime parishioner of St. Vincent Martyr Church. She loved to travel to Idaho to visit her daughter and her grandchildren. She loved a good adventure and was fond of the beach and long drives. 

Carmela was proud of her Italian heritage and was an avid card player with friends and family, especially the Italian card game Scopa. 

Carmela will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation to celebrate Carmela’s life from 1:00PM to 5:00PM on Sunday, November 21, 2021, held at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home at 9:00AM on Monday, November 22, 2021, followed by a 10:00AM Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. For those that wish, you may attend the Funeral Mass virtually via livestream by visiting www.svmnj.org. *For the safety of all, the family kindly requests that all those attending the visitation and funeral services wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.*  

Interment will be held at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Madison.

In lieu of flowers, please make charitable contributions in Carmela’s memory to CHA Foundation, c/o Hospice of New Jersey, 400 Broadacres Dr. 1st Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.