Obituary of Vita Marie Palermo

Vita Palermo, born December 16, 1929, died peacefully on January 27, 2024 in Houston,Texas.

Vita Marie Palermo passed from this life on Saturday, January 27, 2024. Vita was born on December 16, 1929 to Domenic Sedita and Lena Fasullo Sedita. She attended Sacred Heart, Holy Name and Blessed Sacrament primary schools and Incarnate Word Academy.

Vita married Anthony “Tony” Palermo on June 13, 1948. Tony and Vita had three children, Mary Ann Palermo Bankston, Steve Palermo and Greg Palermo. Vita worked in her family’s grocery store (Sherman Food Market) from about the age of twelve (12) years until, and after her marriage to Tony. When her family decided to sell the grocery business, she worked first at Joske’s Department Store in Gulfgate mall and years later worked at a law firm where she made many friends, especially Tommie Brown and Jim Soto. She was also able to work along side her nephew, Michael Patronella.

Vita was a longtime member of the Neo Deb’s club and the ladies of the Sacred Heart. She loved playing cards, and Vita and Tony loved to travel and made many trips with their best friends Jimmy and Pauline.  She also love the bus trips to the casinos in Louisiana with her dear sister, Antionette Patronella.  Vita was blessed with a long life without having any visits to a hospital since her son Greg was born 64 years ago.

Vita is survived by her children: Mary Ann Palermo Bankston and her husband, Mike, son Steve Palermo and his wife, Louise, and son Greg Palermo and his wife, Gerri.

She is also survived by her brother, Sammy Sedita and his wife, Jeanette, and sister-in-law, Vita Ann Palermo; grandchildren, Chris Bankston and his wife, Nicole, Matthew Bankston, Marcus Palermo and wife, Jessica, Lisa Newton and husband, Jeff, Mike Bankston, Jr. and his wife, Kim; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Prickett, Allie, Domenic, Samantha and Sadie Bankston, Luke and Audrey Palermo; and great-great granddaughter, Leighton Prickett; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

Vita was fiercely proud of her Catholic faith, Italian heritage, and her family.  She will join her parents, Domenic and Lena, her loving husband, Tony, her grandson, Domenic Michael Bankston and her dear sister, Antoinette Patronella, who went before her.

A visitation with the family will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 12:00 noon, on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 11011 Hall Road in Houston, Texas.  The Rite of Committal will follow at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston, Texas.