Adele C. Catalani

Adele Catalani, 78, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2021 in her home in Mesa, Arizona. Adele was born Adele Grace Carissimo, in Boston, Massachusetts on November 13, 1942, attended Devotion School in Brookline and graduated from Brookline High School. She earned an Associate Degree at LaSalle College and worked in the medical, fitness and education fields, in addition to owning an exercise club in Reading, Massachusetts. As a recruiter for Johnson and Whales University she helped students begin their careers, and as a teacher’s aide taught young students to read. Look to the Light, a journal of photographs and poetry was published in 2010 by Adele herself, subsequent to starting an event planning business.

Adele married Giovanni Catalani in Boston in 1966 and gave birth to her first child, Monica in 1968 followed by son Marco in 1973. Adele lived in Burlington Massachusetts from 1973 until moving to Atlanta, Georgia in the 1990’s and eventually to Arizona, where she met and married Steve Walker in 2001, and Amy Walker joined the family.

Adele led an active and happy life. She enjoyed line dancing, photography, traveling, walking her dog, cooking and spending time with family and friends. Also a fantastic Italian-food cook, Adele made traditional favorites from original recipes passed down from generation to generation. Writing and taking pictures kept her busy until she eventually succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease after a 4-year battle with the debilitating illness.

Adele is survived by husband Steve Walker and her children Marco, Monica and Amy. Funeral services will be held, with visitation beginning at 9:00 am, and services to follow, Wednesday September 1, 2021 at Gilbert Memorial Park, 2100 East Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85297.