Neila Ann Cangro

Neila Ann Cangro, born February 1, 1950, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, with her husband Kenny holding her hand.

Neila met the love of her life, Kenny, in 1964 while attending Walt Whitman High School in Long Island, New York. Kenny was a senior and Neila a freshman, and the two quickly became inseparable. On April 23, 1965, Kenny asked her to a church dance at St. Elizabeth Church, marking the beginning of a lifelong love story. Five years after they met, they were married on March 14, 1970, beginning a marriage that would span more than five decades.

Kenny joined the United States Navy, serving in security and intelligence, and his service took the young couple across the world, including Pensacola, Florida, Okinawa, and Guam. While stationed in Okinawa, they welcomed their daughter, Nicole, on March 21, 1973. After returning to Florida, Neila and Kenny went into the furniture business in July 1978. For 32 years, until 2010, they worked side by side running their business, sharing both their marriage and their professional lives. In 2010, Neila began working at Memorial Hospital, where she remained until her retirement in 2025. She loved her work and the friendships she formed with her coworkers.

Neila had a deep love for life and family. She enjoyed walking, exercising, cooking, and gathering with her large Italian family. She was known for her warmth, kindness, and the genuine care she showed to everyone she met. After retiring, she began experiencing early stages of dementia. A serious accident later led to hospitalization and eventually hospice care, with Kenny faithfully by her side day and night.

Neila is survived by her devoted husband, Ken; her daughter, Nicole; her sister, Lydia; her brother-in-law, Mike (Felicia); her sister-in-law, Jane (Tom); and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Loretta and John Cocchiaro; her parents-in-law, Bunny and Ken Cangro; and her brother Joseph, who died at birth.

Neila will be remembered as a warm, loving person who cared deeply about everyone around her. Her love, kindness, and spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.