Carol Dell'Angela

Nov. 17, 1939 - Dec. 21, 2024

Carol Dell’Angela, a skilled duplicate bridge player who loved socializing with family and friends, died Dec. 21 after a long illness. She was 85. A retired office manager, Carol was passionate about playing games, watching football, and shopping for new clothes and kitchen gadgets. She was a serious card counter who taught her children and grandchildren how to play games strategically and “gamble” with pennies and sugar packets. She also played in a competitive bocce ball league during her time living in Northern California. She was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and graduated from Metuchen High School. After graduation, she worked as a department store model and in a clerical role at Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey. She was married for 59 years to the late Louis Dell’Angela, and they spent a lot of time connecting with new and long-time friends in all the communities they lived in during their long marriage – Raleigh (NC), Manchester (CT), and cities all across California – Gardena, South San Francisco, Seaside, and San Diego, coming full circle to live closer to family. After moving back to California with her husband and daughters in the 1970s, Carol worked as an office manager for a real estate firm and two different insurance firms. She also stayed active and took on leadership roles in community organizations – from the PTA and Welcome Wagon to women’s clubs and Italian American social organizations. She loved being around children, and volunteered as a school tutor and hosted several exchange students from Japan and Italy. When she became a grandmother, she decided to conquer her fear of flying so she could spend more time with her grandchildren in Chicago and San Diego. She was very proud of her grandchildren’s interests and accomplishments, attending all their graduations and asking lots of questions about their burgeoning careers. For most of her life, she loved catching up on all the news with her family and friends across the country. If one of them shared a story of being wronged or disappointed, she responded with fierce loyalty. After retirement, she indulged her passion for cruising– traveling to Alaska, Caribbean islands, the Panama Canal, and Hawaii among other locales. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she loved filling her house with decorations and putting loads of presents under the tree. She loved going out to dinner and indulging her sweet tooth with special desserts. She and Lou loved the companionship of their pet dogs over the years – Piper, Poncho, Boomer, and Charlie. After her husband Lou died, she moved into senior communities in Rancho Bernardo and San Marcos. She is survived by her daughters, Dawn Dell’Angela Ricciardi and Tracy Dell’Angela Barber, sons-in-law, Mike Ricciardi and Peter Barber, her four grandchildren – Alexandra “Lexie” Barber, Cassidy McGonigle, Anjanique “Jana” Barber, and Trey McGonigle – and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends. A private online memorial service is planned for Jan. 18. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Doctors Without Borders.