Ilda G. Agostinho

Ilda Agostinho, age 94, of New Smyrna Beach, died Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

Ilda was born on May 25, 1923 to Nancy and Anthony Spagnolo, in Yonkers, NY, where she lived for 58 years. She studied piano from the age of 9 and enjoyed musical family settings with her father on flute, brother, Rudy, on sax and clarinet, sister, Josephine, singing, and cousins joining in with their instruments. She was a piano accompanist in Yonkers High School for glee clubs and other choirs, and played bass violin in the orchestra. She was president of the Junior Metropolitan Opera Guild, for high school students attending opera performances at the old Met on 39th Street, in New York City. Ilda was also president of the Italian Club.

Upon high school graduation, she was awarded a piano scholarship for exceptional work and met her late husband, Adrian Gallinari, while he was studying voice at the same music studio. They were married, in 1946, for 30 years and enjoyed visiting the national parks with their son, Robert. The highlight of their trip to Italy, in 1975, was meeting Mother Teresa, in her compartment, while traveling to Rome, where they enjoyed “girl talk”.

Since 1946, Ilda was an organist and choir director in several Catholic churches, in Westchester County, NY, where she had a teaching certificate to teach music in their schools. She was an organist and choir director for 26 years and accompanied the West Point Catholic Choir, when they sang for the Forty Hours Devotion, in 1964. She also directed children’s teen and adult choirs in area churches.

Ilda married Henry Agostinho, from Long Island, NY, in 1981. They wintered in New Smyrna Beach for a few years and moved here, permanently, in 1995. Both were members of the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Golf Course and, also, enjoyed surf fishing together.

Ilda was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and had been a piano accompanist for the 9 o’clock mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, between 1996 and 2015. She was a member of the Auxiliary at Bert Fish Medical Center and was the keyboard player for the Bed Pan Band since 1997, entertaining at nursing homes and other social events. She was happiest playing for her church and playing ‘gigs’ with the band.

She leaves behind her son, Robert Gallinari, of Jacksonville, FL; step-son, Denis Agostinho, from Long Island, NY; and several nieces and nephews in New York and New Jersey. She is preceded in death by her second husband, Henry Agostinho; first husband, Adrian Gallinari sister, Josephine D’Aquanni; and brother, Rudy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will take place at Ferncliff Cemetery, in Hartsdale, New York, at a later date.

A special thank you to VITAS Hospice Care for the wonderful care you provided to Ilda, in her final days. 

Memorial donations are suggested by the family to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 998 Father Donlon Dr., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168. 

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