Marie Antoinette Minoli

MARIE (MIMI) ANTOINETTE VELARDI MINOLI

Born in Brooklyn, New York to Nicolo and Lucy Velardi, Mimi was the elder of two children and was raised in Bay Ridge with her younger brother Guy. She attended Fontbonne Hall Academy and later graduated from Notre Dame College in Staten Island, New York where she captained the equestrian riding club and completed a higher education in her teaching profession. For a time, she studied law before becoming a devoted educator as a kindergarten & elementary public-school teacher for many years until retirement.

Gifted in many areas, Mimi enjoyed playing piano, painting, and cooking. She also had a love of travel: She spent time exploring Europe before and during her marriage. Though diagnosed with polio as a child, she never allowed it to limit her zest for life.

In 1955, Mimi married her loving & faithful husband, Mario D. Minoli, with whom she shared 60 wondrous, life-fulfilling years. Together they built their marriage in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where they raised five children. Mimi worked as an elementary school teacher in the Brooklyn Public School System and after work delighted in cooking, caring for her family, and creating a warm & welcoming domestic life. She loved taking her children to museums & fostering their education, going on family vacations, and spending summers at their cherished home on Candlewood Isle in Connecticut.

After retiring, Mimi and Mario first moved to the island of Manhattan, where Mario had grown up, then to Greenwich, Connecticut. When widowed, she eventually settled in Pelham, New York. Throughout her life she remained active, sociable, and deeply devoted to her family and friends. She loved the arts, opera, and travel; and was widely known for her warmth, energy and conversational gifts. She was beloved by those who knew of her interest in them and who appreciated her ability to genuinely connect.

Mimi was predeceased by her beloved husband, U.S. Army veteran Mario D. Minoli; her parents, Nicolo and Lucy Velardi; her brother, Guy R. Velardi; and her devoted grandmother, Antoinette Capazucca. She is survived by her five children—Guy (Martha Clipson), John (Anita Bovee Minoli), Peter (David Wezdenko), David, and Nicole (Darra Gordon) – as well as her nephew, Paul Velardi (Sue); and their children Emma, Blake and Christian, her goddaughter, Patrice and Patrice’s children, Than & Trish; and her cousins from the Cartier (Pat, Patrice, Vincent & Greg) and Fasulo (Elena, Louis & Edward) families. She leaves behind her cherished grandchildren – Michael, Ally, Sienna, Lucy, Nicolas, Johndavid, Chloe, and Kayla; and her adorable step great-grandson, Indigo. Mimi was also so grateful for the personal aid she received from her kind caretakers - Jennifer, Linda & Reniesa.

Mimi will be remembered as a loving wife, devoted mother, proud grandmother, loyal friend, and dignified lady. Strong, sincere, empathetic, engaging, and full of life, she was a shining example of a generation whose grace, resilience, and warmth will be long remembered. Mimi is already deeply missed.

A celebration of Mimi’s life will be held at Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, NY, on Monday September 29, 2025, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM . A Mass of Christian Burial will will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 575 Fowler Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM Interment will take place at St. John Cemetery in Queens, New York. For more information, or to share condolences, please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either St. Jude’s for children stjude.org , or the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund - wvf.org .