Loretta Jean Gough Cavaliere, 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, after a seven-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Benny Cavaliere; and her daughters, Carol Bell (Leon) and Linda Hall (David). She was blessed to also have very close, loving relationships with her four grandchildren, Heather Cavaliere, Lauren Plunkett (Kevin), Jessica Burkman (Brian) and Ben Hall (Raine), in addition to her six great-grandchildren, Dylan Cavaliere, Jaden Reed, Eli Dobson, Logan Dobson, Lilah Grace Hall and Brinley Hall.
Loretta had a deep love for music and loved singing and playing the piano and teaching all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to dance. She and her husband, Benny, “stole the show” with their jitterbug at every family wedding and the many dances they attended. Loretta also enjoyed hosting large family dinners in their home for many occasions, often cooking for days in preparation. She loved to crochet and made afghans for her four grandchildren when they were born and sewed clothes for her daughters in their teens. Her New Year’s Eve parties for her young grandchildren were “legendary” and the topic of many endearing stories of food, dancing and videos. She eagerly attended numerous sports events, piano and dance recitals, school events, and graduations for every member of her large family.
Loretta was born in Uniontown, Kentucky as one of 10 children to the late Annette Crawley Gough and Martin Gough. She graduated from St. Agnes Catholic High School and for several years played the organ for daily Mass at the church.
She moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1954 where she met the love of her life, Benny Cavaliere, whom she married on March 21, 1955. She worked at Redstone Arsenal for the U.S. Army for two years, left to raise her daughters full-time, and later returned to an enjoyable career there until her retirement. She and Benny were long term members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Whitesburg Pool, and Valley Hill Country Club where they had many friends.
Loretta’s life will be celebrated by her family in a private service, and she will be buried at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hudson Alpha Foundation for Alzheimer’s research or Holy Spirit Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul fund.
