Lucia Noto

Lucia Noto was born on June 13, 1936, in Castelluccio Cosentino, a small rocky mountain-top town located south of Naples, Italy. Her parents, Giuseppe and Giuseppina (Di Mare) Imbrenda, welcomed her into the world with affection and pride. Growing up alongside her two older brothers, Donato and Vincenzo, the family enjoyed the rustic charm of a family farm, filling their days with the rich scents of fruits, vegetables, olives, grapes, and the sounds of chickens and pigs. Lucia learned the essence of Italian cooking, mastering recipes that became the heart of countless family gatherings, including her meatballs and eggplant dishes, which cannot be replicated.

At a young age, Lucia attended sewing school, honing her skills to become a talented seamstress specializing in custom dresses and wedding gowns. In early 1960, a pivotal encounter occurred when a friend of Lucia’s future husband visited Italy and enjoyed Lucia’s cooking. Captivated by her charm, he introduced his best friend, Pat Noto, to her and urged him to correspond with her. Their daily exchanges in Italian deepened their connection, leading to Pat’s heartfelt proposal, which Lucia joyfully accepted. Their love story culminated in a December 1, 1960 wedding in Italy, followed by a honeymoon across the country’s captivating landscapes.

The young bride Lucia embarked on a grand liner to voyage to New York City, accompanied by a sizable trunk brimming with her handmade clothes, tablecloths, and linens. Settling in the Bronx, New York, Lucia and Pat Noto began their marital journey, welcoming two sons, Dino in 1963 and Aldo in 1964. First relocating to Queens in 1966, they later in 1969, fulfilled their dream of a suburban haven in East Islip, NY, on Long Island, where a spacious garden awaited. Even after moving to their new home, Lucia continued her craft of creating exquisite dresses and wedding gowns. Her passion for gardening flourished as she tended to bountiful vegetable patches, always ready to share her harvest with guests over lavish Italian meals. A devoted mother, Lucia dedicated herself to nurturing her sons, ferrying them to various activities such as Boy Scouts and Orchestra with unwavering support. She took immense pride in their accomplishments, both eventually pursuing careers in law.

Lucia and Pat cherished their life in East Islip, New York, for 27 years until 1996 when they decided to retire to Arlington, Virginia, to be closer to their son Aldo. There, Lucia continued to indulge in her passion for gardening. A culinary enthusiast throughout her life, she dedicated countless hours to watching cooking shows, reading cooking books, and experimenting with new recipes. Lucia lost the love of her life, Pat, on October 7, 2007, due to complications of esophageal cancer. Lucia enjoyed traveling to Italy and to visit her son Dino, first in New York and later in Florida after his relocation in 2012. On the afternoon of May 6, 2024, just a month shy of her 88th birthday, Lucia peacefully departed this world, joining her Heavenly Father. Preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, she is survived by her two sons Dino and Aldo; their wives, Maria and Lisa; three grandchildren, Amanda, Diana, and Lucia; and nieces and nephews who will continue to cherish her memory.

There will be a viewing on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm at Money & King Funeral Home, located at 171 Maple Ave W., Vienna, VA 22180. The funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm at Saint Luke Catholic Church, situated at 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101. Following the funeral, Lucia will be interred at Quantico National Cemetery on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 2:00 pm, followed immediately by an early dinner.

Lucia took great pride in her granddaughter Lucia’s entrepreneurial ventures, notably her establishment of Butterfly Books in 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing literature to underprivileged children and those with medical needs. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to contribute to her granddaughter’s cause through this link: https://www.butterflybooks.org/donate.