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- Carmeline Ann Tedesco
Sep 19, 1931 - Jan 19, 2017
Carmeline Ann Tedesco, passed away on January 19, 2017, at age 85. Born in Niagara Falls, she was the daughter of Anthony and Phyllis (Cavallaro) Alongi born on September 19, 1931; sister of Vito Alongi, Stephen Alongi and Phyliss Conti.
In her teens, she worked at her family's garage, Alongi Motors. located at Pine Ave. and 26th Ave. She graduated Niagara Falls High School in 1949 and married her high school sweetheart, guitarist, Tommy Tedesco. Tommy and Carmie soon had their first child, Dale in 1951.
In 1953, Tommy was working at Carborundum Company while playing and teaching guitar part time. Carmie worked at Circero and Brundo's Music Store. On one occasion, Tommy and Carmie went to a dance at Niagara University where Tommy was studying accounting. A friend of theirs heard that the Ralph Marterie Big Band was looking for a new guitar player that evening. Tommy auditioned that night and went on the road with Marterie the next day. He traveled the country and saw there was a lot of work in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, he and the singer with the band were both fired in Dallas because Marterie found a singing guitarist. Tommy was so ashamed he told Carmie he wanted to move to Hollywood to look for work. Within 3 weeks, Carmie and Tommy drove across country with their young son to California.
Carmie recently said that Tommy didn't want to go to that dance because he got a gig for the weekend in Pennsylvania with his trio. But she told him he had to go to the dance, I spent $35.00 on that dress! So Tommy went to the dance and their lives were changed forever!
In the 1960s, Carmie and Tommy had 3 more children, Denny, Desiree, and Damon. While her husband made a career working in the music recording business, Carmie raised four kids while also managing Tommys bookings.
In the late 1970s, Carmie took a job at a new music school as a bookkeeper. The school became well known as Musicians Institute, one of the worlds leading music schools.
Tommy retired in the late 80s, and he and Carmie bought a summer home on Grand Island where they enjoyed seeing friends and family. After Tommy passed away in 1997, Carmie returned to Los Angeles full time to spend time with her children and grandchildren whom she adored. She is survived by her children, Dale, Denny, Desiree and Damon Tedesco; and grandchildren, Tyler Jannson, Cassidy Jannson, Isabella Tedesco, Rafael Tedesco, Daniella Tedesco and Madison Tedesco.
Services will be held in Northridge, CA on Saturday, January 28th at 2 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes, 18437 Superior St., Northridge, CA 91325. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Carmie's favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
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