Wednesday, February 4, 2026
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On January 30th, 2026 Camille Rose Santasiero Matarazzo passed
away. She was 86 years old.
A native New Yorker who grew up on the Lower East Side, she was
someone who caught the eye of many, but it was a skinny kid from
Jersey, named Ray, who caught her heart.
They met while working at Meryl Lynch. He was an analyst and she
was a typist.
They started their life together in Brooklyn, circa 1963, later
moving to New Hyde Park, before settling down in East Norwich,
Long Island, in 1974, where they spent the rest of their lives.
She knew how to make friends and how to keep them, most of her
friendships lasting from youth. She could always be counted on for
a listening ear and word of encouragement, and perhaps a bit of
gossip.
She also knew how to hold a grudge (especially if you went after
her kids) and the power of forgiveness, which she would
demonstrate by lighting a candle for your soul, whether you wanted
it or not. You could find her doing so in the chapel of her
Parish, Saint Dominics, where she was a faithful parishioner for
over 40 years.
She loved a good tuna melt and an “end slice” of Sicilian pizza
from Umberto’s in New Hyde Park. Her french fries always had to be
“well done” and well salted. While she never mastered the art of
cooking broccoli, she made an amazing baked ziti.
She loved music, books and independant cinema. Her favorite soap
opera was “All My Children”. She had a fondness for Warren Beatty,
who once kissed her hand and made her blush.
Though Camille wasn’t quick to laughter, she had a very keen sense
of humor and even wryer observational wit. If you did make her
laugh, you knew you had struck comedy gold, which her friend Joan
Hathaway deserves top prize.
She loved children and fostered dozens of them throughout the
years, while raising three of her own.
She returns to her husband, Raymond Matarazzo, whom she had a
lovely 10 year hiatus from. She also reunites with her parents,
Sadie and Angelo Santasiero, her grandparents, and some of her
closest friends.
She leaves behind her three children, Mark, Todd and Heather, as
well as her sister, Denise, her nieces Jennifer and Kimberly, and
the many friends she made, who will miss her.
Most importantly, she leaves behind a legacy; one that will
continue to impact the broken hearts of those who knew her and
love her still.
