Lucy Ranelli Carchasky

Lucy Ranelli Carchasky
Age 99 - Lifelong Eastsider.
Passed away December 2, 2023. Preceded in death by her husband, Robert. Survived by her children, twins Lori Anderson and Mark; her granddaughters Angie (John) Fox and Ashley Anderson; her great granddaughter Estella Lu.
Lucy was preceded in death by her parents Salvatore (Sam) of L’Aquila and Concettina Di Nino Ranelli of Corfinio and her brothers Mario (Jennie) and John. Her parents married in Italy in 1921 and made a 3 month voyage across the Atlantic Ocean before arriving at Ellis Island. They settled at 24 Phalen Creek, Swede Hollow on the east side of lower Payne Ave where Lucy was born. Families got their water from underground springs in the creek carrying artesian well water under Hamm’s brewery. Shortly after, they settled at 693 Bedford St in an Italian neighborhood of the Eastside.
Lucy graduated from Johnson High School in 1943. On November 25, 1950 she married Robert at St. Ambrose Catholic Church and made their home on Magnolia Ave on the Eastside. She worked at Telex for 17 years making headphones for the military in WWII. Lucy continued operating heavy machinery while working on the drill presses for Teamsters at Viking Drill from 1965-1974. She also worked at a department store in downtown Saint Paul.
Lucy spent decades of her life as a family caregiver to her parents, her brother John, her husband, her children and her grandchildren. Angie and Ashley’s childhood was with their grandparents during weekdays for breakfast, going to school, dinner and all day in the summer. Lucy volunteered at Trinity Catholic School for 13 years helping with lunch and recess duties. At 4’8”, she blended in with the kids but she could always be found by her whistle.
Lucy loved to cook and would deliver pans of her lasagna, pies and Italian wafer cookies all around the Eastside. She bought bushels of Roma tomatoes from the Heinz farm in Saint Paul and the farmer’s market. Every year she canned 225 quarts of tomato sauce to last for the year. She would stand on a stool and stir the large pots with a small boat oar. Lucy was always active and on the go. She loved walking around Phalen Lake even in her 80s and mowed her lawn until age 93.
On February 2, 2018 Lucy left her home for good and entered into memory care at Johanna Shores in Arden Hills. Her family continued her caregiving role with daily visits for dinner and spending all holidays there. Her devoted daughter Lori spent at least 6 nights a week there to care for her. Together they formed so many friendships with staff and other families until she was called by God. Lucy was a loving matriarch to her family. She will be deeply missed but her memory will live on.

Mass of Christian Burial 11am Friday December 15, 2023 at St. Casimir’s, 929 Jessamine Ave E, St Paul. Visitation will begin at 10am. Burial 10am Tuesday December 19, 2023 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

**as seen in Pioneer Press**

Lucy Ranelli Carchasky
Age 99 - Lifelong Eastsider
Passed away December 2nd
Preceded in death by her husband, Robert. Lucy is survived by her children, Lori Anderson and Mark; her granddaughters, Angie (John) Fox and Ashley Anderson; her great-granddaughter, Estella Lu.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11am on Friday, 12/15 at St. Casimir, 929 Jessamine Ave E., St. Paul. Visitation will begin at 10am. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Tuesday, 12/19 at 10am.