Charlotte Contardo, 86, Medford

Charlotte L. Contardo, 86, Medford

Updated 5:37PM, Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Charlotte Contardo was a feisty member of the Greatest Generation. She joined the Navy as a young woman and served in the WAVES from April of 1944 to August of 1946. Charlotte, nicknamed Barney by her fellow servicewomen, achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer and earned the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal during her years of service.

After she was honorably discharged from her service in the Navy, Charlotte attended business school and earned a certificate for secretarial work. A Somerville native, Charlotte moved to Medford when she married Domenic Contardo. Domenic was also in the Navy but the pair did not meet until after the war at the famed Memory Lane restaurant. Charlotte and Domenic’s Medford home has been in the Contardo family since Domenic’s parents came over from Italy and all of Charlotte’s children and grandchildren have lived in the home at some point during the course of her long life.

Charlotte is survived by daughter Arlene Goldsberry and her husband Frederick, son Joseph Contardo and his wife Susan, son Daniel Contardo and his wife Debra, and grandchildren Allison and Melissa Goldsberry; Alexander, Laura, Rita, Jason, and Amanda Contardo; Jessica, Anthony, and Kaitlyn Contardo, and Jennifer, Brenton, and Cassandra Calhau.

Funeral from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, MEDFORD. Visiting hours Monday 4PM-8PM at the funeral home. Funeral mass celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Church, 10 Fellsway East, MALDEN, at 9AM Tuesday followed by burial at the Oak Grove Cemetery in MEDFORD. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Eulogy by Laura Contardo, Charlotte’s granddaughter

Nana Charlotte was a stubborn and strong lady. She was always upbeat and loved telling stories, like of her time in the service, or the stories from growing up in the Depression.

She was an awesome grandmother. I feel really lucky to have spent so much time with her. Us grandkids always had so much fun over her house. She loved playing and spending time with us, even after Rita burned her with hot chocolate. From the trash bag “races” up and down the hallway, to always playing dress up with her clothes and jewelry- everyone always wanted the slips and the nylons for our hands. She’d let us take all the pillows, blankets, and furniture to make forts. Nana would even let us make them out in the side yard. And Nana let us take over her house for a few days so we could make the “Universe Gym.” I always loved when she let us play “chef” in her kitchen. We would mix anything and everything. Sometimes we convinced Nana to try it!

She was my favorite person. It’s extremely sad she’s gone. I will continue to be thankful for all the support she has given me in all my decisions, from studying automotive to joining the Army. She encouraged everyone to lead a full life, as she did. I have nothing but good memories of her. But she herself said she was ready to go. So I leave you all with the famous words that Nana Charlotte always used to say: “Here’s to you and here’s to me, but if perchance we should disagree, to hell with you and here’s to me!”