Caterina Rosa (nee Orso) Santello

Caterina Rosa Santello (née Orso)
June 7, 1928 – July 1, 2025

Caterina Rosa Santello, née Orso, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, at the age of 97. Born on June 7, 1928, in Chiesanuova, Italy, to Pietro Domenico and Clara Orso (née Gay), Caterina was raised in Geneva, Switzerland, where she developed a lifelong love of languages and culture.

A gifted linguist fluent in five languages, Caterina began her professional journey at Cook’s Travel in Geneva before immigrating to the United States in June 1953. She married the love of her life, Joseph Santello, on February 6, 1954, and together they built a beautiful life and marriage that spanned 68 years.

Caterina was a pioneer in business and education. She co-founded Coutellerie de Geneva in Lake Forest, Illinois, continuing her family’s legacy in the cutlery and silver trade as a third-generation expert. She was a proud member of the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce, and her passion for international connection led her to a role at Abbott Laboratories, where she worked in accounting and translation in the International Department. Caterina also shared her love of language by teaching French at night classes at Lake Forest High School and privately to students in the community.

A devoted Catholic, Caterina’s faith guided her life. She was deeply committed to charitable work, serving as treasurer of Marie Adelaide, an Italian-American women's society, and as a devoted member of the Italian Catholic Federation, where she coordinated charter flights to Italy for many families. Her devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel was a constant in her life.

Caterina was the beloved wife of Joseph Santello; cherished mother of Joseph (Justine) Santello of Lake Forest and Micheline Tomassetti of Mesa, AZ; and treasured grandmother of Catherine (Nolan) Sweeney, Joseph Santello, Jianna Santello, Adam (Elizabeth) Tomassetti, Michael Tomassetti, and Maria Tomassetti. She found special joy in her great-grandchildren: Isabella and Adriana Sweeney and Eleanor Tomassetti and a cherished Godmother to many.

She was the dear sister of the late Jean Claude Orso, and loving sister-in-law to the late August and Rosalie Ziccarelli, late Louis and RoseAnn Santello, late Vincent and Carmella Peliachevsky, and late Anthony and Lena Scopelliti. Caterina was also a cherished aunt and cousin to many, known for her warmth, grace, and unwavering kindness.

Her legacy of love, culture, and service lives on in all who were blessed to know her.

A visitation will take place Friday, July 18, 2025 from 9:00 AM until time of funeral mass 10:00 AM at Saint Patrick Church (Main Church), 991 S. Waukegan Road., Lake Forest, IL. Entombment will follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, 700 River Road, Des Plaines, IL.

In lieu of flowers and trees, the family has requested donations to be made to the Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) Sir Luigi and Lady Augusta Providenza Seminary Scholarship Fund.

https://donorbox.org//donations-for-providenza-fund

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