(This is being written by her only daughter)
Our Mother's story is one I did not think I would have to be writing any time soon, if ever. I figured she would outlive us all!
An obituary is a short humdrum story of a person's life, but that just doesn't seem to fit here and it will be completely impossible for me to write everything about our beautiful mother unless I was writing a novel. Here are a few things I want the world to know.

Our mother from the time I can remember was the strongest super human in the world. I remember her busting her butt working as hard as she could to support her four children on her own. She fought hard, and her strength was un-worldly. The love she had for her children trumped all the sadness in her life and that was what she focused on as she raised us. Three boys and a girl, we had a great childhood, never needed for anything, always felt loved, safe, and proud to be our mothers children. Can't say we were an easy bunch to raise, but somehow she managed not to strangle any of us along the way. The laughs and love we shared with her will always be the best memories we can hold.

Our mother had a love for animals ever since she was a child, she became a horse lover and taught us all her passion. Same goes for dogs & cats, any living creature for that matter, our mother taught us love. She worked at the Lutheran Home nursing home in Erie, Pa as an LPN where we use to go and sit and talk with the elderly she cared for, she taught us kindness, patience & compassion. She fought daily to keep us fed, clothed and together as a family, she taught us determination and strength.
Later in life she went back to school and became a professional medical coder, she taught us perseverance, self preservation, self confidence and to never give up on a dream if your heart is telling you it's right. Our mother had many loves, many things that made her who she was, her joy in the small things in life, her kindness to people, her endless giving of those in need, her ability to walk into a room and melt everyone's heart with her beauty and smile. She loved her grandchildren and was so tickled to have great grandchildren, they were her world.

She loved animals so much so she caught each feral cat and kitten in her RV park, took them to HALO had them all spayed and neutered, then brought them all back home, named each one and took care of them everyday. (Our eldest brother is taking on that task now for our mother, for that was her wishes) She loved going on cruises with her friends, she loved traveling anywhere, and was very proud of her three boys that served our country, she loved music, dancing, singing, garage sales, estate sales, clearance sales...okay she loved shopping. She loved going out to eat trying out new places, she loved watching sunsets and sunrises, riding horses, playing with her dogs, giving advice (even if you didn't ask for it) She loved her family with all her heart and she missed the ones who had passed dearly.

Her life was not easy, she had many setbacks that knocked her down, but she never gave up even at the end she fought through the pain to smile and laugh with us, to make sure we all knew how much she loved us even though the excruciating pain was eating her alive she joked and hugged us, kissed us, let us know we meant everything to her.

I do know all four of us children would not be the people we are today if had not been for our mothers love, guidance, wisdom, love, encouragement and strength. Thank you mom.

If you were one of the lucky ones in this life that had been touched by my mother, even in the smallest way, just know you had been touched by an angel.

God couldn't have asked for a more beautiful angel to join in him in heaven
Maria Helena Camerlo Samartino Cunha, December 12, 1942 to July 21, 2016, passed away from bone cancer at VNA Hospice house in Vero Beach, Florida. She is the daughter of the late Peter & Gina A. (Jean) Camerlo of Erie, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Fort LeBoeuf High school in Waterford, Pa., and later went to St. Vincent.s School of nursing Erie Pa, and became an LPN. Then continuing her education at the American Academy of professional coders in Clearwater Florida, and became a Professional Coder and biller.
She is preceded in death by her parents & infant brother Peter David, her brother in law Richard Kerner and her late husband Mark Harrison.
Her surviving children are David Edward Samartino, Sebastian Fl, Michael Anthony Samartino, Holiday Fl, Lori Ann Samartino (Richard Kelso) Holiday Fl, Steven Mark Samartino, Pensacola Fl. She has three beautiful sisters Linda (Richard) Kerner, Harborcreek PA, Judith (Andrew) Thiry, Sebastian Fl, Debra (Thomas) Basil, Evans GA, and her brother Ronald (Donna) Camerlo, Green Valley AZ. Her grandchildren in order of age are: Rene Marie Canady (Travis Canaday), Randilee Maria Samartino (Marcus Hastie), Ralph Edward Newcamp III, Daniel David Samartino, Christina Marie Samartino, Kaitlyn Anne Samartino, Elena Nicole Samartino, Abriana Lucia Samartino. Her Great Grandchildren in order of birth: Benjamin Maddox Samartino, Blake Austin Canaday, Donte Steel Samartino Hastie, Madison Maddox, Cheyenne Dee Canaday, Eliana Ryan Samartino Hastie
Many important nieces, nephews, Cousins, aunts, uncles and friends she thought of as family as well.

A private ceremony will be held by family members down at the river and we will be releasing balloons as per my mother's request.
In lieu of flowers we are asking that any donations be sent to H.A.L.O rescue no-kill shelter 710 Jackson St. Sebastian Florida 32958 in honor of my mother, every penny helps for the animals that she loved so much.
Thank you

For an online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website www.seawindsfh.com. Seawinds Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cunha family.