SPRINGFIELD – Angelina C. “Angie” (Tarantino) Bretta, 96, of the East Springfield section of Springfield was Called Safely Home on Saturday, August 10, 2013. She passed into Eternal Life at her home surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving daughter, Linda, who was her devoted caregiver. She was born in Albany, New York, on Independence Day, July 4, 1917, a beloved daughter of the late Francesco and Caterina (D’Agostino) Tarantino. At the young age of three, her mother, Caterina, was Called Home to the Lord. Her father, Francesco, moved the family to Springfield and later married Mary (D'Argenio) Tarantino, who became Angie’s step-mother. Angie was schooled in Springfield and became a resident of the city for the remainder of her life. She began her work career as a cake decorator at the former Liberty Bakery. Yearning for a better career, she furthered her education and became a Certified Nurse Assistant and was employed at the former Wesson Memorial Hospital and then for several years became a private duty nurse in the Springfield area. Angie was always ready to help anyone in need and in the 1960’s, she received an award in nursing from the Manpower Institute in Springfield. During her leisure time, she enjoyed sewing, knitting and gardening. Being of Italian heritage, Angie loved to cook for her family and her many friends who were always invited to her home for a good Italian meal. She was a wonderful homemaker to her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was a member of the Dante Club in West Springfield and a longtime communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Besides her parents and step-mother, she was also predeceased by her loving husband and best friend, Carl L. Bretta who was Called Home on September 19, 1988; her loving daughter-in-law, Barbara Bretta who was Called Home on May 7, 2011; her dear brother, Pasquale Tarantino; her dear sisters, Filomena Roberts, Florence Cennamo, and Maria DiMascola; her dear step-brothers, Tony Lombardo, Paul Lombardo, and Frankie Lombardo; and her dear step-sisters, Mary Russo, Jenny Currado, and Betty Belcore. She leaves her devoted daughter, caregiver, and best friend, Linda A. Bretta of Springfield and her companion, George DePonte of Ludlow; her loving sons, Louis T. Bretta of Springfield, and Ron P. Bretta and his wife, Lillian, of East Longmeadow; her four cherished grandchildren, Thomas Bretta and his wife, Darota, Julie Hannoush and her husband, Nabil, Lisa Bretta, and Dawn Bretta; her step-grandson, Peter Gerow; her seven cherished great-grandchildren, Brianna, Anthony, and Nicholas Bretta, and Marie, Monica, Matthew, and Marissa Hannoush; her dear sister-in-law, Evelyn Tarantino of Connecticut; and her many dear nephews and nieces. Angie will also be missed by her loving feline companions, Nico and Mario. Her family would like to express their appreciation to the Greater Springfield Senior Services and Baystate Visiting Nurse and Hospice for the excellent care they provided Angie over the past several months. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, August 14, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will follow the Mass at Hillcrest Park Cemetery, 895 Parker Street, Springfield, MA 01129. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made in her memory to either the Shriners Hospital for Children, (Springfield), 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, PO Box 319, South Deerfield, MA 01373. For more details, please visit:www.stpierrephaneuf.com