Diane H. Calo, 71, of Hawthorne Road, died Thursday, September 10, 2015 at Brookdale in Smithfield. She was the wife of Joseph M. Calo, Sr. They were married for forty seven years.
Born in Newark, NJ, a daughter of the late Alfonso and Helen (Salkowski) Benimeli, she lived in Smithfield since 1981.
Mrs. Calo was a medical technologist at the Blood Bank at RI Hospital for over 20 years until her retirement.
Mrs. Calo was involved in a number of service-oriented volunteer activities. She helped teachers at the St. Philip School, especially with reading, while her two boys attended that school.
She was an active member of the Smithfield Youth Soccer Association. She served in many capacities in SYSA including elected offices, coach (boys’ soccer), referee coordinator, as well as founding and developing the well regarded SYSA soccer referee training program that she ran for many years. She was also active in soccer at the State level with RISA and RISRA, for which she served as State Referee Coordinator. She was recognized for her many efforts and accomplishments in local soccer by induction into the Soccer Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 2011.
Mrs. Calo was also very involved in her pet therapy program, “Maxwell’s Magic,” with her golden retriever, Maxwell. They were associated with the organization Community Canines for Companionship and Care (CCCC). She and Max brought moments of happiness to many people in the region at countless nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, group homes, and the summer children’s reading program at the Greenville Library. In 2008, Diane and Max received a certificate of appreciation from CCCC in recognition of their work.
She is survived by her son, Andrew J. Calo of Waltham, MA, and a granddaughter, Delaney Helen Calo of Waltham, MA. She was the mother of the late Joseph M. Calo, Jr. “Jobey.”
Funeral Tuesday at 8:30 am from the ANDERSON-WINFIELD Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in St. Joseph Church, Danielson Pike, North Scituate. Burial in Highland Memorial Park, Johnston. Visitation Monday 4-7pm.