Carmela DiGrazia

Carmela DiGrazia

10/17/1934-11/17/2025

Carmela DiGrazia passed away on November 17, 2025 at The Abbington Senior Living Facility. She was born in Salt Lake City on October 17, 1934, to Jim and Palma Chiodo. The second of four daughters, Carmela cherished her sisters and loved visiting and traveling with them.

Carmela attended the University of Utah, where she earned a degree in physical education and met the love of her life, Joseph DiGrazia, in an Italian class. They married in 1958 and shared 61 wonderful years together. Throughout Joe's career, Carmela moved with him around the country before they eventually settled in Oakland, California. They loved to travel the world, and cruises were one of their favorite ways to explore.

Carmela began her teaching career in New York. After moving to California, she taught physical education at Castlemont High School and Skyline High School and later became the Director of Physical Education for the Oakland School District. Teaching brought her immense joy-she loved her students, and they loved her in return. She enthusiastically participated in every exercise alongside her classes and still found time to call friends in the evenings to plan additional workouts. Carmela retired after 40 dedicated years of teaching.

Her Catholic faith and Italian heritage were central to her life. She attended Mass every day, beginning each morning before school with prayer. In retirement, she continued serving the Church by decorating rectories, putting up Christmas trees, and wallpapering walls. During Easter, she lovingly made palm crosses and placed them at the graves of friends.

For the last six years, Carmela lived in a memory care facility, where she quickly became a favorite among the staff. Her laughter, smile, and joyful spirit were ever-present. Her family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at The Abbington for their compassionate care, with special gratitude to Hali and Liz of Renew hospice.

Those who knew her loved her for telling it like it is - her candor, delivered with warmth and a smile, was unmistakably Carmela.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph DiGrazia; her parents, Jim and Palma Chiodo; and her sisters, Clara Wyllie and Ellen Horton.

She is survived by her sister, Pamela Boyles; her brother-in-law and caretaker extraordinaire, Charles Horton; her nieces, Tonna Goodfellow and Jaime Horton; and her nephews, David Wyllie, Andrew Wyllie, Travis Horton, and Troy Horton.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, December 4, from 6:00–8:00 p.m at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building . Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 5, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 1375 East Sprint Lane. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery at 4th Avenue and T Street. Share your photos and memories with her family at www.starksfuneral.com