Emma Tiziano

In Loving Memory of Emma Tiziano

Emma Tiziano, 82, of Naples, Florida, formerly of Highland Park, IL, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2026, at her home in Naples, surrounded by the love of her immediate family.

Born in Conversano, Province of Bari, Italy, to Matteo and Rosa (Zivoli) Coletta, Emma immigrated to the United States in 1964, settling in Highland Park, Illinois. She was deeply proud of her Italian heritage and the traditions she carried with her throughout her life. In 1966, she married the love of her life, Frank “Franco” Tiziano. Together, Emma and Franco shared 53 years of marriage, building a loving family and a life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and tradition. Franco’s passing in 2019 left a forever void that was felt daily in Emma’s life.

Emma was a woman of deep faith, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to the people she loved. Her Catholic faith was at the heart of who she was and guided her throughout her life. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend whose greatest joy came from caring for others and keeping her family close.

In 2007, Emma and Franco moved to Fort Myers, Florida, then later to Naples, where Emma would make her home for the remainder of her life. She loved Naples and embraced the beauty and warmth of Florida. She enjoyed going to the beach, watching beautiful sunsets, and spending time tending to her tropical garden. Emma cherished visits with her late twin sister Teresa, with whom she shared a special twin bond, and another close sister Tina whom she lived next door to for many years. These simple pleasures and visits brought her great happiness and fulfillment. 

Emma was a caring, devoted, and nurturing woman with a simple and generous soul. She was down-to-earth, level-headed, loyal, and in many ways, ahead of her time. She had a quiet strength about her and always seemed to know what mattered most. Emma rarely put herself first. She was always there for her family and friends, ready to help, listen, comfort, or simply be present. 

Emma also had a love for life's simple pleasures. She loved to knit and would spend countless hours making hats, scarves, and other handmade treasures for her family and friends, each one made with love. Emma absolutely loved to play cards. Whether it was Briscola, Scoppa, Contract Rummy, or Poker, she was always ready for a game. She was a true card shark, and those who played with her knew she was not one to take it easy! Her love of cards brought laughter, friendly competition, and many wonderful memories around the table with family and friends.

Emma was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Guild of Christ Our Hope Parish in Highwood, IL, a reflection of the importance her Catholic faith held for her. She had a particularly deep devotion to Padre Pio, whom she adored. To Emma, Padre Pio represented profound spiritual healing, hope, and a connection to the divine. She tried to live by his words that meant so much to her: “Pray, hope, trust, and don’t worry.” Those words reflected the faith and quiet strength with which she faced life.

Emma worked for more than 20 years at Zebra Technologies Corporation as an Electronics Assembly Technician before retiring. After retirement, she devoted much of her time to her family and played an important and loving role in helping raise her grandchildren. Being part of their lives was one of her greatest joys. Emma was especially proud of her close-knit family. She cherished family gatherings, the laughter and stories shared around the table, and the Italian traditions that brought everyone together. Traditional Italian Sunday dinners held a special place in her heart. For Emma, family was not simply important—it was everything.

Emma is survived by her daughter, Tina (Corey) Dreher, of Naples, Florida, formerly of Deerfield, Illinois; her son, Dominic Tiziano (fiancé, Sharyl Cino), of Bonita Springs, Florida; and her beloved grandchildren, Nathan, Evan, Aidan, and Logan Dreher. 

She is also survived by her siblings and extended family, including Tina (Tony) Di Vagno; Steve (Gessi) Coletta, Tony Coletta (Laura), brother-in-law Mike Minchillo; sister-in- law Christine Coletta; brother-in-law Domenico Nichilo; sister-in-law Ida Tiziano; and brother-in-law Nick Tiziano, along with many cherished nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews and Cousins.

Emma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Franco “Frank” Tiziano; her parents; her cherished twin sister, Teresa Minchillo; her brother, Vito Coletta, and his late wife, Giulia; her sister-in-law Maria Coletta; her sister-in-law Grazia Nichilo; her brother-in-law, Joe Tiziano; and parents-in-law Domenico and Benedetta Tiziano.

Emma’s life was not defined by grand gestures, but by the countless small acts of love she gave so freely. She nurtured, encouraged, cared for, and prayed for the people she loved. She taught her family the importance of faith, loyalty, family, tradition, and simply being there for one another.

She will be deeply missed—not only for the things she did, but for the person she was. Her gentle presence, her steady strength, her Italian traditions, her faith, her kindness, and the love she gave so unselfishly will forever remain a part of her family. 

There will be an empty place at the Sunday dinner table, a quieter home, and countless moments when her family will wish they could hear her voice, see her smile, or simply sitbeside her once more. But Emma’s love will continue through her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and all those fortunate enough to have known her.

Her family takes comfort in knowing that she left this world exactly as she lived her life— with faith, surrounded by love, peace, and the people who meant the most to her.

“Pray. Hope. Trust. And don’t worry.” Padre Pio

Those were words Emma carried in her heart. And now, with love and gratitude, her family carries them forward.

Emma will be loved forever, remembered always, and missed more than words can ever express.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Christ Our Hope, St. James Catholic Church, 134 North Avenue Highwood, IL from 10 A.M. until the time of the funeral mass celebration at 11 A.M. Emma will be laid to rest, next to her husband Franco, at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville, Illinois.

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