CARLA C. CONVERY

CONVERY CARLA CESARINA BONFANTI CONVERY Carla Cesarina Bonfanti Convery, a long-time resident of the Mount Vernon area and former owner of Mike's Italian American Restaurant, passed away at her home on November 20, 2013 at the age of 93. She was born March 7, 1920 in Como, Italy to Maria Begalli Bonfanti and Mario Bonfanti. On March 9, 1947, she married William F. Convery in Cividale, Italy. She moved to the United States in 1947 and in 1952 became a U.S. citizen. Throughout her life, Carla was an avid runner and athlete. In 1936, she qualified as second runner up for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. One of her greatest thrills was meeting Jessie Owens and watching him run. In 1940, she qualified for the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland which was cancelled because of World War II. In 1971 Carla and her two sons purchased Mike's Italian American Restaurant and in 1975 sold the restaurant and retired. Five years later she renewed her involvement in Track and Field events that were established in Washington, DC. In 1983 she became an original member of the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Carla taught exercise classes for 26 years and served on the Advisory Council as secretary and treasurer. She was an active volunteer at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Gum Springs Senior Center and the Mount Vernon Adult Day Care Center. As a senior citizen, she participated and accumulated awards in many competitions; World Games, Senior Olympics, the Golden Age Games, Senior Nationals, the Virginia Commonwealth Games, the National Senior Games, and the Potomac Valley Track Club's Masters Track, to name a few. She received the Commonwealth of Virginia Female Athlete of the Year Award, Potomac Valley Track Club Ray Gordon Outstanding Athlete Award and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Life Time Achievement Award. Her husband, William F. Convery Sr. died in 1962. Carla is survived by her two sons, William "Bill" (Nancy) Convery and John Daniel "Danny" (Lois) Convery; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and her close friend, Kate DeAngelis. Family will receive friends on Sunday, November 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, November 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Louis Catholic Church, 2907 Popkins Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, P.O. Box 2089, Merrifield, VA 22116 or to the Potomac Valley Track Club, c/o Peter Blank, Treasurer, 8200 Galahad Court, Annandale, VA 22003.In lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, P.O. Box 2089, Merrifield, VA 22116 or to the Potomac Valley Track Club, c/o Peter Blank, Treasurer, 8200 Galahad Court, Annandale, VA 22003.