OAS Remembers Vice Principal Colosimo With Butterfly Garden Dedication

Tears filled the eyes of Orange Avenue students as they sang, "She Has Made a Difference," to honor the memory of Vice Principal Carmela Colosimo at a butterfly garden dedication ceremony on Friday evening.

White doves were released to provide a sense of peace and calm, Principal Michelle Vella explained as she remembered her colleague Ms. Colosimo as always smiling and a dedicated educator in and out of the classroom.

"She loved this school, each one of the students and staff members that walked through our doors, when she spoke of her family, the smile that immediately came across her face and the pride that she beamed with was second to none. So proud." Vella expressed. "It was hard not to fall in love with this place after spending only an hour with her and she had an amazing ability to make it feel like it would always be OK. To also make you feel like you were the most important person in the world and we remember that so clearly that it is difficult for us sometimes to not believe that she's going to be walking in the doors right after us."

Colosimo's daughter, Stefania, also spoke at the ceremony citing the poem "If I could fly as high as a butterfly."

Stefania thanked DiFabio Construction and the OAS community for completing the touching tribute to her mother. She added that although her mother is no longer with them physically, thank you for giving her a place to come and visit.

The Board of Education and Orange Avenue School dedicated the garden in Ms. Colosimo's memory.

Check back with Cranford Patch for a video of the ceremony, including the dove release.