Love Story: Husband ‘Died Of A Broken Heart’

Doctors and scientists say the heart is one of the strongest muscles in the human body.

But Fayetteville’s Sam Corallo knows that one thing can tear the heart apart, no matter how strong: the end of a lifetime love affair.

On June 29, Sam’s mother, Theresa, died. Just six days later his father, Nick, died, and Sam has no doubt what killed his father.

“He died of a broken heart.”

After conducting four services and two burials within two weeks, Sam sat down Monday afternoon and reflected on his parents’ life.

The saga began shortly after World War II when Nick returned home after serving his country in the Army.

“He was in the second wave at Omaha Beach, and was on his way to the Pacific when he got the news that the Japanese had surrendered,” Sam said.

For his valor during four campaigns during the war, Nick had received two Purple Hearts and returned home to his native Chicago.

“My father’s dad had a store in a building owned by my mom’s aunt and uncle. He was seriously dating another woman, but after he met my mom, he stopped dating her and started dating my mom,” Sam said.

The two married in 1945 and started their family. The Corallos had Sam, along with his sister, Joan. Nick was an electrician for the Brach’s candy company, while Theresa was a department manager at Goldblatt’s department store. With both parents having Italian heritage, food and family were two of the prominent features of Sam’s childhood.

“My dad was a really good cook, and after he moved down here, he complained about the bread, and he eventually made his own sausage to get the taste he wanted,” said Sam.

But after the children moved out of the nest, Sam’s parents decided in the late 1980s to move south.

“They wanted to be closer to me and their grandchildren,” said Sam.

Sam’s sister eventually moved to Tyrone from California, and the whole family unit had made the transfer south. For a while, Sam’s parents stayed with him, but eventually moved into an apartment and enjoyed the quality of life that Peachtree City provided.

But Nick Corallo got tired of the apartment, and at age 86, decided he wanted to build a home. So, he contracted out the work and had his house built.

“I remember him telling my mom that this would be theirs and they could stay there the rest of their lives,” Sam said.

Corallo’s dad was a fighter and was stunned to learn in 2006 that the U.S. government did not consider him a citizen.

“My dad was shopping for his auto insurance and was at an agent’s office. The agent came back and told him he did not have a valid driver‘s license,” Sam said.

Sam said his dad showed the agent his current license, but the agent explained his license had been revoked by the state.

“Apparently, after 9/11, some laws had been passed that said my dad and others like him were not citizens,” Sam said.

Nick was born in Italy, but Nick’s dad was a naturalized citizen. For all his life, Nick defended the country, paid his taxes and drew Social Security, but suddenly he was no longer considered a citizen. For the next year, Sam and his father dealt with Homeland Security in trying to fix the problem.

“I never understood it. My father enlisted in the Army and was fighting against Italy, the country that he was born in, but that wasn’t good enough.”

Sam had to locate the ship’s manifest that sailed into Ellis Island with his dad, along with obtaining records from the military and Social Security.

“I can’t tell you how many hours I spent in waiting rooms,” he added.

But finally, last October, Nick headed to north Atlanta and was given his citizenship oath, more than 60 years after participating in the Battle of the Bulge and fighting for this country.

But with aging comes health problems, and Theresa developed Alzheimer’s, along with a host of other health issues. Nick also developed health problems, including diabetes, and both eventually moved into a room together at Ashley Glen Assisted Living Center in Fayetteville.

“My mother would have her good days and bad days. My father understood that she would forget things and keep asking the same question, but he never really understood the disease,” Sam said.

One of her best days was this past Mother’s Day, when she came to Sam’s house for five hours and enjoyed the family time. But the next day, she had a mild stroke.

“Her memories were basically erased from age 19 because of the stroke,” Sam said.

For the next two months, Theresa’s health worsened and she had to have vascular surgery. The doctors said she had only a 25 percent chance of surviving, but she made it through the surgery. But, Theresa, who had heart problems, faced a more serious problem.

“The doctor she had a valve issue and had a zero percent of surviving the surgery,” he said.

Sam had already done the preliminary paperwork involving powers of attorney and living wills. He was on a business trip to South America when he was notified he needed to return home.

“She had a do not resuscitate order, but I had to make the final call, which I did,” he said.

After the life support system was pulled, she still lived for five days, which amazed the doctors.

“She was one tough Dago, I’ll tell you that,” Sam said.

She died on June 29 and the family had a service in Peachtree City July 1. On July 2, the body was flown to Chicago, so she could be buried with the rest of her family. The family had her service on July 4 and buried her on July 5.

As Sam was getting ready to fly back to Peachtree City on July 5, he received a phone call that his father had suffered a heart attack.

“He was 90 and had never suffered one before,” Sam said.

Sam and his family hurried home, but arrived at the hospital 10 minutes after his father died.

“He always told me they were going to die together. He even mentioned that to me at my mom’s service in Peachtree City.”

So, for the second time in two weeks, Sam and his sister arranged a service in Peachtree City, and then flew his dad’s body back to Chicago to be buried next to Theresa.

During the last two weeks, the Corallos have gone through a minefield of emotions in burying their parents.

“I tell you what, they were both fighters,” Sam said.

He’s noticed that in older Italian families, if a husband dies first, the wife usually survives for a while because she has more of a social network. But when the wife dies, the husband usually follows quickly.

“He didn’t have anything else to live for. His heart was broken. He prayed to die,” said Sam, the surviving son.