Mary Rose Stanton

Mary R. Stanton passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on July 12, 2026. Born on February 19, 1932, in South Bend, Indiana, Mary Rose Zappia was a first-generation American whose Italian parents had recently immigrated from the Calabria region of Southern Italy. Her mother initially walked her to the local schools where she excelled.

She attended St. Joseph’s Academy for high school and then became the first person in her family to attend college. She graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1953 with a B.A. in English Literature. After graduating from St. Mary’s she and her close friend, Mary Jane Wahl, petitioned Notre Dame University to allow them to continue their academic studies at Notre Dame, and the University, after reviewing their academic performance at St. Mary’s, decided to allow them into their graduate night school program to become the first two lay-woman to obtain degrees from Notre Dame University. She graduated in 1956 with a Master’s degree in English Literature and used that degree to teach others until her 68th year.

It was at Notre Dame that she met and married Richard “Dick” Stanton. They enjoyed a 69-year love affair, which after several dates, and a marriage in 1957, produced five children, and friends everywhere they lived. In addition to raising her children -- Bill, Mike, Meg, Richard, and Rory -- she was a loving Granny to six grandchildren: Mary Rose, Andrew, Daniel, Eleanor, Erin, and Rachel. She loved all the family dogs, starting with Sean, who came shortly after Richard was born and before Rory.

In 1970, Mary and Dick moved the family to England and Ireland for 15 months. Dick had been awarded a Sloan Foundation fellowship, which brought them overseas for his scientific research. Mary enrolled all five children in school and fully immersed herself in the rich cultures of both England and Ireland as an expat. She fell in love again, this time with Ireland.

She initially taught grade school children in South Bend Indiana, while attending Notre Dame, and then continued teaching until she married Dick. They moved to Buffalo where he took a position as professor of Physical Chemistry at Canisius College. After her children were raised, she returned to teaching. This time it was Special Education at Sweet Home middle school from 1973 to 2000. Her students not only learned how to read and write but were also introduced to classics such as Steinbeck and Shakespeare. She wanted to raise the bar with her students by exposing them to more sophisticated literature than what would be expected. She cared about her students and colleagues greatly. Every morning, after her coffee, she stood at the front door of her classroom and greeted each student by name and a had a positive comment for each one that warmed the environment of her classroom. In 1984 she was honored by her school district with the Heart Award (in recognition of her tireless devotion to her students).

Mary had a wonderful life. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, had a full career and a pleasant retirement. She will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her and loved her. Family and friends may call at DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA Funeral Home, 8630 Transit Road, East Amherst, Sunday July 19, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Saint Benedict Roman Catholic Church, 1317 Eggert Rd, Amherst, Monday, July 20, at 10:00 am.