Mary Antoinette Puzzo

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Mary went home to the Lord on Friday, January 12, 2024. She resided at the Cypress of Charlotte for 24 years, after also being a long-time resident of Fort Myers, FL and Yonkers, NY.

Mary was born February 24, 1923 in Thompsonville, Connecticut to immigrant parents Charles Fiore and Rachel Valvo Fiore, who had immigrated to the United States from Naro, Sicily. Mary was the second of five children, her oldest sibling having died as a toddler. She is predeceased by brothers Ralph and Charles. Her youngest brother, Louis, lives in Ft. Myers, FL.

Mary grew up in Enfield, CT, and married her childhood friend, Charles Puzzo, who was then a Captain in the US Air Force. They married on June 3, 1943, at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Enfield, CT. After the war, Mary and Charlie settled in Yonkers, NY, and raised their two daughters, Marilyn Sacco (Puzzo) and Marie Garin (Puzzo). They lived many happy years in Yonkers, NY and eventually moved to Ft Myers, FL after Charlie retired from Hill and Knowlton public relations firm. Mary and Charlie enjoyed their years in Ft Myers traveling, golfing, and spending time with grandchildren, family, and friends. After Charlie’s passing in 1997, Mary would begin living in Charlotte, NC where she would spend the rest of her remaining years.

Mary is predeceased by husband, Charles Puzzo, her parents, Charles and Rachel Fiore (Valvo), two brothers Ralph and Charles Fiore, and grandson Major Rick Garin. Mary is survived by her brother, Dr. Louis Fiore and his wife, Jean, of Ft Myers, FL; daughters Marilyn Sacco ( Alfred) of New Fairfield, CT and Marie Garin (Alan) of Weddington, NC; grandchildren: Steven Sacco (Donald Reid) of New Jersey; Robert Sacco (Kirsten), of Simpsonville, SC; Stacey DeCaprio (Jeff) of Littleton, Massachusetts; Steve Garin (Ashlie), of Huntersville, NC; and Kelly Garin of Blythwood, SC; great-grandchildren: Courtny (Sacco) Landers (Seth) of Woodruff, SC; Jenna (Sacco) Jameson (Robbie); Tyler Sacco, Dominic Sacco, all of Greenville, SC; Charles Sacco, Kamryn Sacco, Hannah Sacco, Ava Sacco and Amelia Sacco, all of Simpsonville, SC; Joss and Jameson Garin of Huntersville, NC, and Jordan and Katelyn Garin of Blythewood, SC; and three great-great-grandchildren: Kendrick and Esther Landers of Woodruff, SC and Joseph Sacco of Fairbanks, AK. Without question, Mary’s greatest accomplishment is her family. Mary had no regrets, and if given the chance to do it all over again, she would have. Her advice to all: be truthful, kind, and to get along with your family. Her most favorite saying, “everything in moderation”.

Mary was the matriarch of our family. She was a gift from God, who was full of love, was always kind and was always caring. We will forever miss our beautiful mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, more than words can say. Without a doubt, our memories will continue to be a blessing and an inspiration to all that knew her.

A mass celebrating Mary’s life will be at the Church of the Resurrection in Ft. Myers, FL on Friday, January 26 at 10:30 am with burial services to follow at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery. We would like to thank her aids, Sonia Agaton, Patricia Madrid, and Andrea Morales for all their loving care and companionship. All donations can be made to the Guns Garin Memorial Foundation (gunsgarin.com) supporting veteran families in their time of need and inspiring the next generation of pilots.

Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park is in charge of arrangements.