HORNELL-Mary R. Fucci, beloved mother & grandmother passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning (May 5, 2015) at her home — the same home in which she was born 100 years ago. She celebrated her 100th birthday this year with family & friends at a party given in her honor last month at The Main Place in Hornell.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Mary was born on April 8, 1915, and was the daughter of Leonard & Amelia (Canella) Caruso.
Mary attended Hornell High School and was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. She had been a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.
In the early 1960’s, Mary established Fucci’s Pizza Villa in Hornell making her one of the first female business owners in Hornell. She owned and operated the business until 1977. She later was employed as a cook for the Masonic Senior Nutrition Program and also served as a volunteer in the Grandparent Program in the elementary schools in the Hornell School District.
Mary was dearly beloved and greatly respected by her children, her family and all that were blessed to know her. She was a very loving and respectful woman who will be greatly missed by all.
She was married in 1935 to Anthony Fucci who died in 1952. Mary was also preceded in death by her daughter, Clara Fucci (who died at the age of three); her son, Michael Fucci (died 2012); her grandson, Michael Dempsey (died 1983); her son-in-law, Lawrence Dempsey(died 1990); 4 brothers, Anthony Caruso, Angelo Caruso, Sam “Tato” Caruso and Richard Caruso; 2 sisters, Jenny Marendo and Nancy Guchardi.
Surviving are 3 daughters, Amelia Dempsey of Hamburg, Marjorie (Jim) Blowers of Swain and Maria Ormsby of Brick, NJ; 1 son, Leonard (Diane) Fucci of Hornell; her daughter-in-law, Linda Fucci of Hornell; 2 sisters, Yolonda Rose of Hornell and Josephine Bondi of Canada; 10 grandchildren, Kathleen Dempsey, Larry Dempsey, Colleen Carrow, Anthony Fucci, Lisa Smith, James Blowers, Mary Clark, Bernadette Hunter, Tina Ormsby and Brittany Broderick; 10 great-grandchildren who dearly loved her and called her “Big Ma”; many nieces & nephews.
The family of Mary R. Fucci will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church with burial in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Mary’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to St. Ann’s Academy, PO Box 446, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
To leave an online condolence or print a memorial form, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.
