Raffaela Amicarelli

Raffaela Amicarelli, 65, of Stevensville, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2010 at her home where she was surrounded by her husband, daughter and two of her sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, May 24, 2010 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph, with Msgr. Eugene Sears officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may visit from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Sunday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home; 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or St. Joseph Catholic Church. Those wishing to sign Raffaela's Memory Book may also do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Un giorno Si ride, un giorno si piange: One day you laugh, One day you cry. For Raffaela and Fernando these words form more than a philosophical phrase. They form the foundation upon which they built their American dream, The Amicarelli Vineyard Italian Restaurant in South Haven, MI. Even when times were tough, they had each other. Their marriage was the foundation of a successful business and a beautiful life. Raffaela was born in Italy on March 20, 1945 to Joseph and Josephine (Bianchi) Macerata. She was raised in Italy and came to America in 1962. Her husband came to this country from Abruzzi, Italy. Each had traveled to the U.S. to find a new life and in the end they ultimately found each other. They met while living in Chicago and almost instantly fell in love. It didn't take long to figure out it was meant to be. After only six months, they wed in Steger, Illinois. Raffaela loved her daughter and grandchildren very much as well as her family and friends. Raffaela also had another love and that was cooking at her restaurant. It was never work but an opportunity to share her passion with others. Throughout the years she befriended many of her customers to the point that were considered family. Her patrons often referred to her as “momma” because of her great love for children. She would often take customer's young children in the kitchen for ice cream and treated them like she would her own. This was the love that strengthened her business, but more importantly her life. Raffaela is survived by her husband of 44 years, Fred Amicarelli; her daughter, Giacomina (Joe) Hager; five grandchildren, Matthew, Joshua, and Jonathan Riedel: and Samuel and Jackson Hager; four sisters, Marianne Santaniello, Teresa Santaniello, Nancy Pannone and Carmela Bianchi, two brothers Fred and Tony Macerata; three sister in-laws, one brother-in-law and 16 nieces and nephews.