Mary Graziano

Mary (Mazzola) Graziano, longtime resident of Cape Coral, Florida for over 40 years, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Mary was born in New York City in 1919, one of six children born to Salvatore Mazzola and Francesca (Brusca) Mazzola. Salvatore and Francesca came to America through Ellis Island from Belmonte Mezzagno, Palermo Italy (Sicily) in the early 1900’s. Mary’s family moved to Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, and that is where most of her memories were made and where the basis of her stories began.

Mom would tell us how her mother would give her a nickel to ride the train to go to work and how her and her friends could go anywhere in the city without having any problems or worries. She would love to go to the “picture shows” and to see plays on Broadway. Her stories would include meeting a very young Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland at a theatre in New York and how badly she wanted to be an actress on stage with them. She begged her mother but her mother said no! She would also tell stories of how her immediate family of (8) lived in a two-room apartment and how there was one bathroom down the hall. There were different family members; aunts, uncles and cousins, who lived in the same building. She would always tell us when her family sat down to dinner each night, no one was allowed to talk. Her father would have a bottle of his homemade wine that he made in the basement, in a bottle on the floor next to him at the table. She would talk about how there was no supermarket in those days and that the milk man delivered the milk, another would deliver meat and vegetables and how everything was fresh. My mother and her family didn’t have a lot, but they had each other and they were happy.

While attending grade school, my mother would tell me that she always got in trouble for talking too much in class and how her teacher made a sign that said “I talk too much” and how my mom had to stand in front of the class with the sign. She also would say she liked to chew gum but also got in trouble for that. Her teacher made her take her gum out of her mouth and put it on her nose!!!! Mom had to quit school and go to work to help support her family. She worked at a factory for Dora Mae Dress Company.

A trip to Coney Island, with her cousin, led her to meeting the love of her life, Joe Graziano who was also there with a cousin. Joe and Mary were married in November 1945 and eventually moved to “the country” moving to the newly built Levittown, New York. Joe was a well-recognized car salesman for Ford and worked many hard, long hours. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and Mary was a member of the Columbiettes, Auxiliary of Holy Innocents Council, Knights of Columbus in Levittown, N.Y. Mary also volunteered and was the past President of the PTA in Levittown and the Sons of Italy.

After discovering Cape Coral, Joe and Mary left New York and headed south. Soon after arriving in Cape Coral, they opened Graziano’s Deli on College Parkway in the early 80’s serving delicious homemade food made by Mary. After selling their business, Mary became passionate about volunteering. She volunteered many, many hours of her time to the Lee County School District, The City of Cape Coral, St. Andrews Daycare and was a volunteer for over 25 years at Cape Coral Hospital. Mary also held many positions (all volunteer) at the Cape Coral Italian American Club. Mary has been recognized and honored by many past elected officials and was very proud of all the time and dedication rendered for the benefit of the community of Cape Coral.

Mary took great pride in her family. She cherished her children and grandchildren and her “granddogs”. Mom really, really loved her doggies. The love she gave all of us will be her legacy. She was selfless when it came to her family only wanting what was best for everyone. She taught me how to be strong, by example, and I owe everything I am today to my mother. I only hope my daughters will continue in the legacy of my mother.

She was a little stubborn and would let you know when she was not happy, but the love for her family was unconditional and infinite. After my children were born, mom insisted they not go to daycare and that she care for them and because of that, I am so grateful. She also cooked us dinner every night! Mom would take the kids to pre-school and also to school as they got older. She also began volunteering at St. Andrews in the cafeteria. Mary was also the proud grandmother wearing the “Dance Grandma” shirt with glitter. She was in the front row of every recital, every show, every competition both Kaitlyn and Courtney performed in and if you were in her way, she’d complain of how short she was and that she couldn’t see over your head! She attended football games to see the girls cheer and attended both girls’ graduations from High School. She told me once that my daughter Kaitlyn saved her life as Kaitlyn was born shortly after my father died. She gave everything she had for me and my family.

Our family was blessed having mother for as long as we did but we know how much happier she is now that she is with my father, Joe.

Our family would like to thank the staff at the Opal of Cape Coral for loving our mother who you lovingly named “Boom Boom Mary”. We are sure you will always remember mom dancing and shaking when she heard music!

Mary was the loving mother of Robert (Patricia) both deceased, her daughter Rosemarie and son-in-law Michael Mitchell. She was the proud grandmother (mama) to granddaughters Kaitlyn and Courtney Mitchell, granddaughter MaryEllen Cedeno (Eddie) and great-grandchildren Layla and Lucas Cedeno. Mary is further survived by many nieces, nephews and family members. She is preceded in death by husband, Joseph, her parents, Salvatore and Francesca Mazzola, brothers, John (Eleanor) Mazzola, Joe (Vivian) Mazzola and Peter (Frieda) Mazzola, sisters, Ninfa (Dominic) Miniero and Anita (David) LoGiudice and many other family members. We love you dearly mother and miss you.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CoralRidgeFuneralHome.com for the Graziano family.