Maria G Marrocco

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Longtime Staten Islander Maria (Julie) Marrocco, 79, of Tottenville, a retired stock exchange employee who will be remembered for her gentle demeanor and loving nature, died Wednesday in Staten Island University Hospital, Princes' Bay.

She was born in Lenola, Italy. She immigrated to the United States in 1966, moving to Stapleton. She lived in Concord and Annadale before settling in Tottenville in 1994.

Mrs. Marrocco began her career as a seamstress. She later worked for 16 years as a page at the New York Stock Exchange. She retired in 1997.

A talented cook, Mrs. Marrocco enjoyed gardening, growing the tomatoes for her homemade sauce, which she used to make pizzas and calzones for her grandchildren.

She also liked to travel, often returning to Italy to visit her family and friends.

Devout in her faith, Mrs. Marrocco was a parishioner of Our Lady Help of Christian's R.C. Church, Tottenville.

Her husband of 50 years, Ferdinando, died in 2009.

Surviving are her three sons, Celestino, Ferruccio and Rob; her mother Lorenza Magni and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 12 p.m. in Holy Child R.C. Church, Eltingville. Entombment will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.