Maddalena Tortora Castaldi

Maddalena Tortora Castaldi
'Mamma Lena'
Mrs. Castaldi, 85, of Charlotte died Friday, February 11, 2005 at White Oak Manor. 'Mamma Lena' was well-known and loved in Charlotte as the inspiration for her family's restaurant, Mamma Lena's Restaurante, which recently moved to Waxhaw, NC.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 11:00 AM at Heritage Funeral Home, Weddington Chapel with Father Carmen Malarcari officiating. Interment will follow the service at Forest Lawn East Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 15, 2005 from 6-8 PM at Heritage Funeral Home, Weddington Chapel, 3700 Forest Lawn Drive.
Mamma Lena was born in 1920 in Torre del Greco, Italy, a small town outside of Naples. As a young woman enduring World War II hardships, she became proficient in cooking wonderful meals from the barest of ingredients. This talent eventually became the basis for her family restaurant's philosophy of simple yet delicious food and led to Mamma Lena's Restaurante becoming one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Charlotte.
Also during World War II, Mamma Lena became well-known in Torre del Greco for her determination to continue to wait for her fiance' who was believed by everyone else to have been killed. Missing for 5 years, Ciro Castaldi had been captured and imprisoned by the Germans until he finally escaped and made his way home to her. Their story became a legend which lives on today in Italy, where she is still lovingly referred to as 'Sposa' (meaning 'The Bride').
Mamma Lena, who came to America with her 3 children in 1966, lived in Brooklyn, NY for 28 years before moving to Charlotte. A warm, funny and loving mother and grandmother, all she ever wanted from life was to be close to her family. She will be deeply missed by her daughter, Josephine Castaldi of Charlotte; her son, Neil Castaldi and his wife Robin of Weddington; her son, Raymond Castaldi and wife Julie of Waxhaw and her four grandchildren, Kristen, Madeline, Nicholas and Danielle Castaldi.
Funeral services for the Castaldi family are in the care of Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service, Weddington/Matthews, 704-846-3771. An online guest book is available at www. heritagefuneral.net.