Margarita Talamonti Lahiff

Amelia Margarita Lucia Maria Talamonti Lahiff was born on March 20, 1967, in Brooklyn, New York. She was raised by her mother Amalia R. Talamonti, grandmother, Amalia M. Talamonti, and grandfather, Giuseppe Talamonti, in St. Petersburg, FL. She spent her early childhood years growing up in her family's home in St. Pete and spending the summers in the family's boarding house in Atlantic City, NJ. She was raised in the Catholic faith and attended St. Paul's Catholic School and St. Petersburg Catholic High School, where she met and made many lifelong friendships. On March 17, 1989, she met Christopher Lahiff while she was working at a jewelry store and he was working at a pizza shop in Tampa, FL. They were married March 17, 1990 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. They welcomed their first daughter, MariaNicoletta Amalia, on April 13, 1991, and their second daughter, Christina-Anne Kathleen, on October 17, 1992. Margarita lived for her family and her friends, many of whom she regarded as family. Caring for her daughters and her grandson, Soren, was her greatest joy. When her girls attended St. Paul's Catholic School, she became an EC3 teacher's aide to not only be near her girls, but also continue to share her caring nature. Later in life, she also was the primary care provider for her own mother. A true Italian American mother, she made sure that everyone felt welcomed in her home and that they had a full belly and a full heart if she had anything to say about it. She was kind, smart, loving, and selfless. She was welcomed into God's loving embrace on September 15, 2023. She is survived by her mother, Amalia Talamonti, husband, Christopher Lahiff, daughters, MariaNicoletta Slater and Christina-Anne Hare, and grandson, Soren Slater. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.