Margaret Ann Comito, whose husband and children have overseen the growth of the family company, Norwalk, Iowa-based Capital City Fruit Co., has died.
Comito, who was diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago, died Sept. 29. She was 75.
“She was married to my dad for 55 years and supported him in building Capital City Fruit Co. over several decades,” her son, Brendan Comito, chief operating officer of the company, said in an e-mail. “She valiantly fought pancreatic cancer and is now at peace.”
In 1965, when she was 19 years old, she married Joseph M. Comito, whose father founded Capital City Fruit.
Margaret Comito enjoyed ballet and attended dance classes into her 60s, according to her obituary, and she enjoyed biking and remained active after her cancer diagnosis. She also enjoyed writing essays and attended the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
She returned to school for a n undergraduate degree from Drake University in 1991, and a master’s degree from Queen’s University in 2011.
Survivors include her husband, sons Brendan, Kieran, Damian and Christian, and daughter Amanda.
Joe Comito is chairman of the board of Capital City Fruit, and Brendan, Kieran and Christian own the company. Damian Comito is a key account manager for C.H. Robinson.
Visitation is Oct. 5 and a funeral mass is at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines Oct. 6. The service will be livestreamed at www.HamiltonsFuneral Home.com.
Donations can be sent to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry, the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, or Sacred Heart Church.
