Grace Leone Cardone

Grace Cardone, the daughter of Rosa and Comillo Leone, was born on September 8, 1922 in Huntington Station, L.I., N.Y., the ninth child of eleven sisters and brothers and passed away on April 18, 2017. After graduating from South Huntington High School in 1940, she attended St. Joseph's College for Women in Brooklyn, NY, until duty called at the outbreak of World War II. With most of her brothers in military service and having been sent off to war, Grace contributed to the war effort by working as an Inspector at Republic Aviation in Farmingdale, N.Y. She examined the riveting and fittings on many of the 9000 P-47 Thunderbolt fighter jets produced at Republic, as they made their way off the assembly line and into all the major WWII theaters of conflict. She married John H. ""Jack"" Norton in 1945 and settled in Huntington Station, where she continued to work in several areas of business and banking. She was married again to Paul A. Cardone in 1969. Together they established and auccessfully operated NORPAC Construction Company for many years, doing brick and masonry work throughout Long Island and the boroughs of New York City. She and Paul moved to Denver in 1991 to be near to family, and established many close friendships and ties to the community. She proudly volunteered in the Rose Hospital Gift Shop for nearly 25 years and was an excellent cook. Grace is survived by her daughter, Donna (William) James, granddaughter, Erin (Matthew) Stearns, and two great-gandchildren, Wyatt and Megan, all of Denver. She is also survived by two beloved sisters, Sophie (Sal) Sarro and Rosemarie Calandrillo, niece, Rosemarie (Chuck) Dalton, nephew Bruce (Marcia) Sarro, godson and nephew Nicholas (Margaret) Leone, nephew Robert (Karen) Leone, step-daughters Patricia Nardone, Diana Falcone, JoAnn Cardone and their children and grandchildren. She will remain forever in their hearts and in those of many other cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. Please make any memorial contributions to the Rose Women's Organization/Rose Community Foundation, 600 S. Cherry Street, Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80246 or to a charity of your choice. Share memories of Grace and condolences with her family in the Guestbook.