Mary "Big Nana" Pietrangelo

Mrs. Mary "Big Nana" Pietrangelo, 87, of Biloxi, MS, succombed Friday, November 24, 2006, after a long illness Big Nana, as she was affectionately called by her 94 living descendants, was born Maria Sardina in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and later moved to Biloxi in 1946, where she resided for the past 60 years. She worked for the Biloxi Police Department as a school crossing guard for over 35 years and was a member of the Italian-American Society where she served as treasurer in 1975. She was a member of long standing of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. She was an avid reader and crocheted ceaselessly over a span of 80 plus years, which the beneficiaries of her workmanship can duly attest. Big Nana was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Antonini Sardina of Bagheria, Sicily; her first husband, Carlo Pietrangelo, and brothers, Tony, Chuck, and Teddy, all from Milwaukee. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, John J. Pietrangelo, Sr.; two sons, Tom and his wife, Linda, of Ocean springs, and John, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Phoenix, Arizona; three daughters, Dee Gara of Biloxi, Nina Curry of Miami, Florida, and Karen Simmons and her husband, Everett, of Hot Coffee, MS; twenty two grandchildren, forty five great grandchildren and twenty two great great grandchildren. The family would like to extend their thanks to Quality Care Hospice and its staff for their loving care, along with our Nana's many friends who were so supportive during her last struggle. Visitation will be Monday, November 27, 2006, from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel where friends may visit one hour before service time. Interment will follow in Floral Hills