THE EVERETT ADVOCATE–Friday, November 15, 2019 Page 7 Still She Rises Gala Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo By Tara Vocino A pproximately 238 people raised more than $55,000 during the recent Still She Rises Gala: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo at the Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill in Somerville. Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo was a 20-year Metro Credit Union employee whose life was cut short due to domestic violence in December 2018. Her estranged husband, Emilio, was charged with shooting her to death inside her car in the driveway. The money raised went toward HarborCOV, the Ersilia Cataldo Memorial Fund by Kiwanis, and Portal to Hope. These organizations, located in Everett and Chelsea, provide services to people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence. The Keynote Speaker was Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Mayor Carlo DeMaria and wife Stacy DeMaria, Everett Kiwanis Club President Rafael Santos, Metro Credit Union President/CEO Robert Cashman, HarborCOV Co-Executive Director Khourou Pich, daughter, Amata Matarazzo, father, Giuseppe Cataldo, son, Carmine Matarazzo, and son, Giuseppe Matarazzo. Parents of Ersilia, Giuseppe Cataldo and Elvira Cataldo. Musician Giancarlo Buscaglia and Metro Credit Union Vice President of Community Relations/ event organizer Saritin Rizzuto. Ersilia’s children Giuseppe Matarazzo, daughter, Amata Matarazzo, and son, Carmine Matarazzo. Ersilia’s family: Sister Adriana Carbo, sister Maria Pagliuca, sister Erminia Buscaino, brother, Anthony Cataldo, sister, Tricia LaRocca, sister, Gina Maniscalco, and sister, Giuseppina Cerasuolo. Master of Ceremonies Saritin Rizzuto said that Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo will never be forgotten and that she did great things for the community. Ersilia was a fellow employee at Metro Credit Union. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, U.S. Representative, said as a child of a domestic violence survivor that ‘We see you, we believe you, and it’s not your fault’ Mayor Carlo DeMaria said her cousin, Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo was a bright light in the city and one of their own. Metro Credit Union President/ CEO Robert Cashman, who exchanged holiday gifts for approximately 20 years with Ersilia, said she was proud of her children and bought life to everyone, always smiling. St. Anthony’s Church Father Olmos Milani led a moment of silence for Ersilia Cataldo Matarazzo. (Advocate Photos by Tara Vocino)
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