Alida Mary Verdone, age 70, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Raleigh, North Carolina on October 4, 2018, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948 as the daughter of Armando and Carmela Vitale.

Alida led a thriving Mary Kay cosmetics business for over 30 years. She loved to walk in half-marathon races to raise funds for important causes such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Her friends' fondest memories of Alida include their early morning walks all over the city and her rigorous exercise classes with the "Gym Rats" group. Her family will miss her contagious laughter and her bright, infectious positive attitude most of all. They will carry both with them with them wherever they go, at every step.

Alida is survived her husband, Anthony Verdone, her son, Alex Verdone, and her sister, JoAnna Vitale. Three visitations and a prayer service will take place, please see below for service times. In lieu of flowers, our family asks for contributions to the Pancreatic Cancer Network or UNICEF in Alida's name: • PANCAN at https://bit.ly/2QpBdUw • UNICEF at https://bit.ly/2OBKWK9

Afterglow I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done. I'd like to leave an echo... whispering softly down the way of happy times and bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave behind when day is done.