Mary F. Conte

Mary Frances Placito Malfitano Conte, 93, went home to be with the Lord on December 13, 2010, following complications resulting from hip replacement surgery after a recent fall and brief hospitalization at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. Mrs. Conte was a lifetime Syracuse resident and native, and a lifetime communicant of Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Pompei, and St. Peter’s parishes in Syracuse, where she served as a member of the St. Peter’s Holy Name and Altar Societies. Throughout the course of her life, Mrs. Conte was also actively involved with the Eastwood Mother’s Club, Eastwood Home Bureau, the Italian-American Heritage Association, and with early editions of the Italian Ferragosto Festival. She was formerly employed by Chappell’s Department Stores and Sibley’s, where she managed the lamp department at Sibley’s in Downtown Syracuse until her retirement. Mary was predeceased in 1967 by her first husband of 27 years, Frank R. Malfitano; and later in life by her second husband of 14 years, Nunzio Conte. Mary was also predeceased by her parents, Carmen and Elizabeth (Vassallo) Placito; and by four loving and wonderful brothers, Andrew, Mathew, Frank, and Carmen Placito.

She is survived by her son, Syracuse Jazz Fest founder and producer, Frank M. (Kathy Rowe) Malfitano of Syracuse; her granddaughters, Jenna K. Malfitano of Kirkville and Carin Krishnan of Detroit; her beloved brother, Ralph Placito of Syracuse; her “adopted” second sons, Oscar Peterson, Jr. of Philadelphia and Shailer Steinman of Manhattan; and by her many wonderful and loving nieces, nephews, step grandchildren, and step great-grandchildren. Mary’s immediate family wishes to thank her lifelong friends, Jane and Virginia Lostumbo, Carm Barbagallo, Dorothy Andaloro, Marge Brigandi, Carmella Dungey, Sam and Fran Malfitano, Betty Placito, Christine and Bernadette Vannelli for a lifetime of love, support, friendship, and kindness. And Mary’s immediate family also wishes to thank Mrs. Conte’s devoted, kind, caring and compassionate caregivers of the past several years, who gave her quality of life, independence, and the ability to live out the remainder and conclusion of her life at her Eastwood residence and birthplace, where she resided, independently, until the time of her death. In particular, the family wishes to thank Mary’s beloved friend and primary care physician Dr. James Telonis, the staff at Family Medicine Associates, Dr. Parker and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sharon Kieffer of the Onondaga County Dept on Aging and Youth, Amy Roberts of Blessed Sacrament Church, dietitian and nutritionist, Joan Rogus, Onondaga County nurse John Terry, Home Aides of Central New York administrator Karen Henry and the entire care giving staff at Home Aides of CNY, Paulette Johnson of Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, and Doctors Lozner and Dickson, Joe Bury, Mark Gummer and the crew at National Audio. Mrs. Conte loved music, considered the legendary Frank Sinatra to be her favorite musician, and was a regular attendee at the annual Syracuse Jazz Fest, where she became a recognizable figure and audience favorite.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday 10 a.m. at FARONE & SON FUNERAL HOME. Burial to follow at Assumption Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home, 1500 Park Street.

Contributions in the memory of Mary F. Conte can be made to Home Aides of CNY, Meals on Wheels of Syracuse, or Blessed Sacrament Church.