Isabella Palumbo

Isabella Lee Maggio Palumbo, 93, formerly of Great Kills Staten Island, New York, passed away on January 2, 2026. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 5, 1932 to her parents, Angela and Vincenzo Maggio. Bella, as she was known, was happily married to Albert Palumbo for 49 years.

Bella was the proud matriarch of six children, thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. As her condition worsened, her children kept vigil at the hospital, caring for their mother at the end of her life as she had cared for them.

Bella grew up in Ridgewood, Queens and attended Grover Cleveland High School. In 1955, she married her husband Albert, whom she met at a dance even though they both famously had two left feet. She worked on Governor’s Island as a secretary before raising her children in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The family moved to Great Kills in 1975.

Bella was a longtime member of the Great Kills Friendship Club, which she attended at least three times a week by Access-a-ride. She was known as an excellent card player at the club. Bella was a devout Catholic and taught religious instruction class for middle schoolers receiving confirmation at St. Clare’s for 25 years. She was the sponsor for several children she taught.

The daughter of a dress maker from Italy, Bella was always well dressed and loved to keep the traditions of her family, like big Italian Sunday dinners while her grandchildren were young. She was an avid reader, sometimes finishing entire books in the span of a day. She enjoyed watching old movies.

Bella moved to Avalon Assisted Living in Bridgewater, New Jersey in 2022. She loved to play cards, bingo, and other games with the residents.

Bella remained sharp-witted until the end, able to beat her kids and friends at card games. She loved movie trivia, remembering bits of Hollywood history from decades past. She was a card shark who loved to play poker, rummy and other games.

She is survived by her children: Dianne Mattioli (Joseph Mattioli), Albert Palumbo (Maureen Palumbo), John Palumbo (Joanne Palumbo), Mari-Anne Segich (Kevin Segich), Jennifer Gigliotti (Frank Gigliotti), and her grandchildren, Dana and Joseph Mattioli; Cynthia Cruger, Victoria Foley and Marianna Palumbo; Michael, Nicole and Samantha Palumbo; Arianna, Brooke and MacKenzee Segich; Sara and Kate Gigliotti. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Vince, Max and Dean Mattioli; Beckett and Charlotte Walker; James and John Foley, and Bayard Cruger, as well as her sister, Pauline Spoto.

In addition to her parents, Bella is preceded in death by her son, Vincent Palumbo; her loving husband, Albert Palumbo; her brother, Peter Maggio and her brother-in-law, Daniel Spoto.

A visitation will take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, 7447 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10307. The funeral mass will be held at 11:30 at St. Clare’s Church in Great Kills.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity that Bella supported, in memory of her and her son, Vincent Palumbo