Yole (Schiavone) Conte

CANFIELD – Yole was born in Montaguto, Italy, on Feb. 17, 1920, and departed this world, Sunday, May 26, at the age of 99. She was the daughter of Carmine and Anna Valerio Schiavone.
Her family came to America Oct. 27, 1927, settling first in Bolivar, N.Y., and then moved to Austintown in 1929 to start the family business.
Yole graduated from Fitch High School in 1939 and studied pre-law at Youngstown College for two years. She lived in Needham, Mass., West Palm Beach, Fla., before settling in Wickliffe, where she and her husband, Emil, co-owned Schiavone’s United Family Foods with her brother.
She was proud of her Italian heritage, sharing it with everyone she met. In 2012, Yole authored and published her cookbook of Italian recipes, “Piatti Favoriti” to pass down to her children and grandchildren. For many years she co-chaired the “Montagutese” Picnic committee to bring together her paisani from her home-town in Italy.
Her pride in being American led her to work at the voting booths for 40 years and to solicit contributions for the American Cancer Society.
An avid cardplayer, she loved bridge, hand and foot, and belonged to seven card clubs. As a member of Tippecanoe Country Club for 35 years, she enjoyed golf and the niners group.
She was a charter member of IHM Church, belonging to its Altar and Rosary Society. Other affilliations included the Columbian Federation, American Legion Auxiliary, Casa Savoia, and United Grocers’ Association.
In her spare time, Yole was an excellent seamstress, sketching and altering patterns to create custom clothing for her children, family, and friends.
Yole was a devoted wife to her husband of 63 years, Emil Conte, whom she married Oct. 28, 1946. After retiring and selling the family business, they spent winters with at their second home in Boynton Beach, Fla.
She was the loving mother of her daughters, Valerie Cardiero (James O’Connor) of Canfield and Bedford, Mass., and Sheila (Jack) Koontz of Austintown.
She adored her four granddaughters, Camille (Peter) Radvanyi, Allison (Sal) Papalardo, Hillary (John) Libnoch, and Lindsay Koontz (Josh Raftery); and cherished her time spent with her eight great-grandchildren, Kailee, Olivia, Alexis, Dominic, and Adriana Radvanyi, Sophia and Ava Papalardo and Oliver Libnoch. Her brother, Emil (Phyllis) Schiavone, and many nieces, nephews, and their families will cherish her memory.
Yole was preceded in death by her parents; husband Emil; and siblings, Oscar, Iside, Clara, Leonard, and Guido.
Calling hours will be at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, on Thursday, May 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. A prayer service will be held Friday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church of Austintown at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 50 Warner Rd, Hubbard, OH 44425.