Mary Tramontano Lala

Lala, Mary Tramontano, 97, of Tampa, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family at her side, on March 17, 2024. She was a devoted wife, caring mother, and nurturing grandmother, who loved entertaining family and friends, and who cherished nothing more than spending quality time with her loved ones.

Mary was born in Brooklyn, New York, in the neighborhood of Williamsburg, on December 13, 1926, and was one of five siblings—a first-generation American born to Italian immigrant parents. While working two jobs as a skilled seamstress and telephone switchboard operator to help support her mother in New York during World War II, Mary met her future husband, John F. Lala III, of Tampa, Florida, a medic in the United States Marine Corps, at the Roseland Ballroom in midtown Manhattan. They wed in 1949 and settled in Tampa, where they remained married for 69 years and raised two beautiful children while operating the family-owned business, Lala Produce, in nearby Ybor City for nearly five decades until its sale in 1997.

Mary was an avid reader, a devout Catholic, and a lover of animals, who enjoyed spending time in the kitchen creating delicious meals and desserts for her family—a frequent hobby that was fueled by a combination of both natural talent and a fervent passion for cooking and baking. Mary also loved to laugh and tell stories with family and friends—a trait which brought an abundance of joy to all who sought her wise advice and cheerful sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Lala III; three brothers, Louis, Frank, and Jimmy Tramontano; and one sister, Frances MacDonald.

She is survived by one son, John F. Lala IV and his wife Millie; and one daughter, Patricia Pupello and her husband Peter. She also leaves behind four grandchildren: Angela Lala, John F. Lala V, Marisa Pupello, and Peter John Pupello and his fiancée Jenna Greco.

In honor of her wishes, Mary will be laid to rest following a private funeral mass and burial for the immediate family at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33607 or online at https://humanesocietytampa.org/how-to-help/wishlist/