Edith Barisano Watson
Posted By Kyle Nikola On August 17, 2020 @ 2:55 pm In Obituaries | 26 Comments
Edith Barisano Watson
1929 – 2020
Edith (Ida/Edie) Barisano Watson, 90, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 2, 1929. She passed away peacefully on August 12, 2020 from heart failure in Savannah, Georgia.
Edie was a first generation American. Her parents, Tullietta Magnacca Barisano and Francesco Barisano, emigrated from Campobasso Province, Italy through Ellis Island between 1914-1926.
They settled in East Liberty, Pittsburgh, later purchasing a home in West View. Edie graduated from West View High School and immediately began work as a switchboard operator. Her late brothers, Nick and Leo Barisano, served in the U.S. Army and Navy in WWII and were gifted wartime storytellers and jokesters. While Nick, Leo and wife Marie remained in West View, Edie and her sister Mary married, raised families and moved often.
Edie met her husband, Don L. Watson, on a downtown elevator in Pittsburgh. Don, who returned after service in the Navy to attend Robert Morris College said, “he was hit by lightning when he first laid eyes on her.” Don’s expansive steel industry career resulted in many family moves in the 50’s-60’s including Ellwood City, PA; Youngstown, OH; Hawthorne, NJ; Chicago, IL; St. Louis, MO; and Dallas, TX. The family size expanded as well with a son and daughter born in the 50’s, and two daughters in the mid-60’s. They put down roots at bucolic Lake Cable near Canton, OH, where they remained for 32 years.
Edie served as Lake Cable Assoc. Pres., notably organizing the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration and community parades. She was the bookkeeper for the family business, Watson Sales, Inc., for 30 years. A fantastic cook and baker, Edie extended the Italian tradition of gathering around the table hosting family celebrations; plus plenty of the kids’ friends over the years with her signature rigatoni and meatballs.
In 1981, Edie and Don fell in love with Hilton Head Island, SC, becoming one of the earliest property owners in Moss Creek Plantation. In 1997, they pulled up midwest roots, moving permanently to Moss Creek, acclimating readily to Low Country life. The couple continued work-related travels capped with multiple trips to Alaska and Hawaii giving them 50-state bragging rights as well as most of North America.
A gifted soprano, Edie joined the Hilton Head Choral Society in the early aughts and performed with the group in Hilton Head, plus European tours in Austria, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Edie started helping with nonprofits like Memory Matters and the American Heart Association. Known for her compassion, she always found time to write a thank-you note or help others in need. If you mentioned a hole in your sock, a few days later, like magic, a box of brand new socks appeared on your doorstep.
Edie will be remembered for her impeccable sense of style, skilled value-seeking shopping, generosity, and for conjuring up occasions to bring her far-flung family together like the many memorable road trips to Pittsburgh for holiday dinners; a 50th anniversary in Jamaica; Christmas in LA; a birthday on Mackinac Island or a mountain home reunion in Asheville, NC. Edie was a relaxed traveler who instilled a sense of place wherever she landed.
Edith Watson is survived by sister Mary Cotton; son Don Watson, Jr.; daughters and sons-in-law, Patrice Watson, Julie Watson & Gregory Jones; Lisa D. Watson & Don Sanders; (5) grandchildren including Emma Chaney, Ava Chaney, Julie Chaney Fiktus, Gregory Jones II, and Ethan Jones; nephew and wife, David Cotton & Susan Grandy; nieces and husband, Carol & Richard Hendrix; Connie Cotton; beloved cousins, Angela Rizzuti and Eddie Barisano, her many cherished friends, neighbors, and her sweet Shih Tzu, Star.
The best way to honor her memory is to vote on November 3rd. Edie instilled civic responsibility in her descendants to make your voice heard.
Donations in her memory can be made to When We All Vote [1] , a voter registration organization; Renegade Paws Rescue [2]; or The Hilton Head Choral Society [3], the longest-running performing arts organization in Hilton Head.
Condolences at Families First Funeral Care & Cremation Center. A celebration of life event will be held to honor Edie once the pandemic has passed.
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Thank you Mayor Sessions. She was remarkable and I was lucky to have her as my mom. Hope to see you soon Shirley!
Lisa
Lisa and family, I’m so sorry for your loss! She was a beautiful and kind person and I enjoyed meeting her on several occasions. Sending my love and prayers for peace for all of you in this hard time.
Thank you Cathy. You are a dear friend and I’m thrilled that she was on one of the boat tours with you and Michael.
Love you. Lisa
I’m so saddened by the passing of Edie. She was warm and generous, funny and quick witted. My Mom Sam, enjoyed her company, many times, and they pal’d around whenever we would visit. They hit it off instantly. I’ll miss her lovely smile when I visit Lisa and Don and send to all the family my heartfelt wishes and love.
Wen! She loved Sam, you and your sister Chris. I think the first time she met your mom, Sam was styling the leopard hair! Hopefully, our smiles (Don and I) will be enough for another visit when you’re ready.
Love you, Lisa
What a beautiful remembrance of her life. God Bless Edith Watson.
Thank you Fred!
Lisa
Lisa, Julie and family.. please know how sorry I am for the loss of your precious mother. I know how much she loved each of you and how wonderful your lives were because of her love. I am praying for your Peace of heart and soul for each of you and will keep you all in my thoughts????your mom was a terrific lady and I loved being a part of your lives for so many years! Sending my love to you all!
Thank you so much Sheryl for your sweet words. I’m so happy we were able to learn and produce all those fun modeling projects as Julie and I matured. My mom really wanted us to experience things that were not available to her when she was that age. Sign of a loving mom. I just told someone about my very first job…mannequin modeling! Take care Sheryl.
Lisa
So sorry Julie to hear of your am mother’s passing. She was a true Lady, our family sends love and prayers to yours.
Hi Diane. Thank you and love to everyone in your family. Love the Volzer’s!
Lisa
Edie was a lovely and energetic member of the Choral Society, a soprano of talent and a person we all enjoyed knowing. She always had a smile on her face and something nice to say. Heaven’s gain is our loss.
Marilyn and Don Lorenz
Thank you Marilyn and Don.
The day my mom told me she joined the choir, so much joy came over me. She wasn’t ready to express her vocal talent until she moved to Hilton Head. Thank you for being a friend and fellow singer to her.
Lisa
I am so sorry to hear of Edith’s passing. She sounded like a wonderful Soprano, which is the section I now enjoy singing in. It is a shame that I never got the chance to meet Edith. She seemed to be such a unique and caring person. May She Rest In Peace!
Thank you Morgan for taking the time to write your sweet words. Wonderful that you are now in the Soprano section!
Sing loudly for her!
Lisa (daughter)
Lisa and Family,
We are so sorry for the loss of your mother. Ian and I had many opportunities to spend time with her, she really was a lovely person. Always enjoyed bumping into her when she was out walking Star. It sounds like she lived an interesting life and more than anything she loved her family. We send our condolences.
With Love,
Brooke & Ian Lintern
Thank you Brooke & Ian. If it wasn’t for my mom and dad, I would of never met two of my favorite people on this planet! < I'm talking about you two!
Love and miss you, Lisa
To the family of Edith, I send my heartfelt condolences. I moved to Moss Creek in 1987 and had the pleasure of meeting the Watsons on the golf course. Don and I played many rounds of golf together.
Don always had that pipe with him.
Edith always had a smile for everyone she met.
Great people!
Tom McNutt
Thank Tom. I love hearing your relation with our folks and love picturing scenes from the Moss Creek golf course. It is heaven on earth as my dad always mentioned to us. Our mom sure knew how to work that beautiful smile of hers.
Lisa
So sorry to hear of Edie’s passing..She was a wonderful lady with a big heart and lovely smile..Heaven is blessed to have her…Sylvia Gubacsi
Hi Sylvia. Thank you for your kind words and all the wonderful memories we had with you. Love to you and Stephanie.
Lisa
I’m adding to the beautiful legacy gifted to all of us by this beautiful lady. We are strangers to her, as we never had the opportunity to meet Ms. Watson, but I feel like we’ve known her all our lives b/c she is so like our Mothers. Our sincerest condolences to the Ms. Watson’s family, and thank you…for everything! We too fell in love with HHI and are in the process of pulling up roots to move there. We are very lucky and truly blessed.
Love, the new owners of their HHI House.
Well Connie, you made me cry…happy cry though. We love 25 Marsh Winds and hope you will have many wonderful years there. In 2017, I noticed a family of deer walking the marsh at sunrise. The deer inspired an entire art exhibit for me. My parents loved the house, view and community. You have the best neighbors in the world! I hope friendships will blossom like they did for my parents. Thank you Connie.
Lisa
Our thoughts and prayers are with Edie’s family at this time of sorrow. She lived a full and adventuresome life, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
I loved knowing you were there for my mom while my dad was declining and then passed away. She had a lot of good times with you…including our wedding celebration in Savannah. Thank you for your condolences Eileen and Bob. Lisa
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URLs in this post:
[1] When We All Vote: https://www.whenweallvote.org/
[2] Renegade Paws Rescue: https://www.renegadepawsrescue.org/
[3] The Hilton Head Choral Society: https://hiltonheadchoralsociety.org/
[4] Offer Condolence for the family of Edith Barisano Watson: https://www.familiesfirstcare.com/edith-barisano-watson/#respond
[5] Image: https://www.familiesfirstcare.com/edith-barisano-watson/print/
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My what a remarkable lady, leaving a memorable legacy.
Sincerest condolences to Lisa, family and friends.