Dearest mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother
Mary Farina, the eldest resident at Eger Nursing Home, and possibly on Staten Island, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2018, surrounded by family, three months shy of her 106th birthday.
Born Mary Aufiero on Sept. 12, 1912, in Brooklyn as a first-generation Italian-American, she spent her very early years working in candy factories to help support her family. Later on, at the ripe age of 20, Mary met and married her loving husband, Joseph Farina, in 1932. Although during the Depression era, they settled in the east Brooklyn area, where Mary became a full-time wife and mother and successfully raised their family of four daughters.
As her daughters grew and married, Mary returned to the work force as a public school cafeteria cook, taking three buses to and from her job each day. The school she worked at had a rough reputation, but Mary, standing all of four feet four inches, was a formidable presence, with her tough love, fairness, and consideration gaining affection and respect from students and staff.
After settling in Gravesend, Brooklyn, for several decades, she relocated to Staten Island in her 90's. Mary, or "Grandma," as she was known by family and so many people and acquaintances, was a loving, considerate woman of old fashioned values and great talents, saying her prayers every morning.
She was an avid reader and loved playing cards, but the greatest of her talents were her cooking skills. Mary's Italian cooking had a renowned reputation with family and friends, particularly during holidays; those family meals will always be remembered with great joy.
"Our grandma was an amazing, loving woman who we enjoyed visiting and spending time with. Being with her was like having a warm blanket around you," said her grandsons, Anthony Sabato and Mario Ricca.
"My wife, Lisa, and I would go see Grandma occasionally on Sunday morning after church and have breakfast with her. While she consumed apple turnovers, she would give us a tree and bird report outside the window. We loved that time with her," said grandson Mario.
Mary is survived by her youngest daughter, Loretta Leys; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mary's husband, Joseph, passed away in 1975. She was also predeceased by her daughters, Rose Colucci, Josephine Ricca, and Connie Sabato.
Arrangements are entrusted to Virginia Funeral Chapel. Family and friends will be received Wednesday, June 13, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service will take place at Virginia Funeral Chapel at 9 a.m. Thursday. Final resting place is Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Virginia Funeral Chapel
1707 Hylan Blvd.
Staten Island, N.Y. 10305
(718) 987-2828
Published in Staten Island Advance on June 12, 2018
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