Carmella Dominik Tannenbaum, 94, passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. On her nightstand beside her were her Jewish prayer book and a picture of her late husband, Alex Tannenbaum.
Carmella was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania on October 19, 1930 to Angelo and Concetta Domnik. The youngest of five girls, Carmella grew up in a home rich in love, laughter, and good Italian cooking— a wealth she carried with her and generously shared with others throughout her life.
After graduating from high school (the first in her family to do so), Carmella met her best friend and life partner, Alex Tannenbaum. Despite their families’ different faiths and cultural backgrounds, the two quickly fell in love and were married on September 14, 1952. After getting married, the two settled down on Montour Street where they made many lifetime friends and even more memories over the 53 years they lived there.
In the early years on Montour Street, Carmella was blessed with two wonderful children, Steve and Audrey. For the rest of her life, Carmella was a carrying mother who worked tirelessly, alongside her husband, to give her children a better life. A firm believer in the value and importance of a good education, Carmella diligently saved whatever she could in her 30s and 40s so that one day she would be able to put both of her children through college —which she eventually did. The accomplished lives of her children are no doubt the fruit of this devotion, love and sacrifice.
If Carmella’s children were her pride, her grandchildren, Sean and Amanda, were her joy. Nona, as Carmella’s grandchildren affectionately called her, was the most fun grandma a kid could ask for. Carmella filled her grandchildren’s childhoods with fond memories, which they will never forget. And when they grew older, she was a constant source of support and encouragement.
While Carmella most treasured her relationships with family and friends, many other moments from her life stand out as noteworthy. Carmella enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the Naval Publications and Forms Center in Philadelphia where she worked for 33 years and she was a proud survivor of breast cancer and an early supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Carmella’s family rests in the peace of knowing that she is reunited with her husband, sisters, son-in-law, and countless friends. She will be remembered for her love, faith, and humility.
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