Louise Carnevale

more, died peacefully at her home in Stuart, Fla., Sept. 3, 2023. She was 108, and under the care of

Treasure Coast Hospice.

She was born in New York City where her parents, Gennaro and Raffaela DePamphilis, had their home

and first printing business in Greenwich Village. In1922 the family moved to Whitestone, in Queens,

where Louise and her siblings — Derna, Alphonse and Carmela — attended P.S. 79 and Flushing

High School and their parents maintained a large and beautiful garden with flowers, vegetables and

chickens. Her green-thumbed father, to her chagrin, called her own special area the “Lou-Weeds garden.”

Gennaro DePamphilis, a printer and bass baritone, also was an activist, and for years Louise was

his assistant in the printing business and his right arm in civic affairs that included selling war bonds

and running scrap rubber and scrap metal drives. She also was the piano accompanist at home for

her sister Derna, a lyric soprano. She fell in love with a family friend from childhood, Joseph Carnevale, and they married in 1946 after he returned from U.S. Army service in World War II. They lived at various times in Manhattan, Queens and Mount Vernon, N.Y., and Louise also began her long involvement

with PTAs at their daughter Carol’s elementary school.

The family moved to Martin County in 1972. It wasn’t long before Louise — who became a Teacher Aide at Stuart Middle School — was involved with PTAs in Martin County, and expanded her civic efforts from there. Volunteers she directed in these many endeavors called her “The General.” She headed the PTA legislative committee, took other parents to Tallahassee, formed a school volunteer program, contributed to Martin County’s Comprehensive Plan creation, and headed the Council that became the volunteer

fundraising arm of the Environmental Studies Center in Jensen Beach. As the Council’s executive director, she started an endowment fund, the Turtle Tracks newsletter, and committees that produced the first Florida Flavors cookbook and yearly Kitchen Tours and arts and crafts exhibits. The money

raised helped pay some of the Center’s teachers’ salaries.

In 1985, she was “roasted” at a dinner where some 100 Martin County politicians, conservationists and friends honored her as a “volunteer extraordinaire.” A card from roast planners Barb Hendry, Joan Hutchinson, Carol Selover, Lucy Wampler and Pam Kahle read “You give more time to public

service than those who hold office.” In 2003, a three-year Teaching Chair was named for her at the Environmental Studies Center. In 2014, Keep Martin Beautiful gave her its Environmental Stewardship “Unsung Hero” Award.

In political circles, she was known for her fearless and well-researched positions on issues that came before the Martin County Commission, School District and Stuart City Commission. She campaigned for several former elected officials, including Schools Superintendent V. James Navitsky, County Commissioner Maggy Hurchalla and Stuart Mayor Robert Miller, all of whom became dear friends.

She also authored numerous well-regarded letters to the editor. While used to pounding the keys of a sturdy Royal typewriter, she found her way with Apple computers and eventually (sort of) a “terrifying” laptop. “I wonder how many famous authors have conquered this technology enough to create

soaring phrases on it?” she mused in a 2010 note created on the laptop. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Joseph Carnevale, her parents and siblings, her in-laws, one nephew and numerous long-time friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Carol Carnevale of West Palm Beach; nieces Beth Nassar (Paul) of Stuart, Debbie Freese (Rick) of Stuart, Lori Humes (Terry) of Coral Springs, Ellie Wellstead (Brad) of Portland, Ore., Gainor Riker (Joe Dreiling) of Warren, Ore., and Vicky Smith (Pat) of West Linn,

Ore.; eight grandnieces and grandnephews; and five great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. She also is survived by loving and devoted caregivers Beverly Tucker, Myrlande Justafort and Elza DeJean, who have been with her since 2017 after a fall and broken leg, before which she continually refused

any and all assistance.

A memorial will be held at a later date. The family requests contributions in her memory to the Environmental Studies Council, Inc., 2900 N.E. Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957, and the Council on Aging of Martin County, 900 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart, FL 34997.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com/location/north-palm-beach for the Carnevale family.