Mary Lou Farruggio

Mary Lou Farruggio, nee Psillis, died on Friday, April 13, 2012. After a long struggle with bone marrow cancer, Mary Lou succumbed from complications of the disease. The last three weeks of her life were spent at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Astoria, Queens, followed by three days at Bellevue,s Hospice Service in Manhattan, where she died. Mary Lou was born on May 2L, t933, the daughter of Maria Concetta Ruoti and Theodoros psillis, the much beloved wife to Louis Farruggio, the sister to Michael Routi and Anthony Routi, sister-in-law to Joyce Routi (Michael) and Micki Routi {Anthony}, the adored mother to Lisa Marino (Frank), Tina Bermudez (Jose) and Richard Farruggio (Paul), the doting grandmother to Elaine, Lauren, Nicole, Matthew, and Arianna, an affectionate aunt to Michael, Ronald, Gina, Jeffrey and Paul Routi, Lisa Carmine (Vincent) and Tara Routi, an affectionate aunt to Angelo Facciponti (Genevieve), Charles Facciponti (sandra) and Rosemary Brentzel, as well as a great aunt to numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She dearly cherished all of her friends, and had many friendships that spanned the decades, such as Eleanor Lackmansingh and Joe and Anna Beltroni. Born and raised in lower Manhattan, Mary Lou graduated from Washington lrving High School in June 1951 and immediately started work at First National City Bank (today's Citibank), ln 1958, at a church dance, she met Louis Farruggio, became engaged to him in 1959, and was married to him on August 13, 1960 until her death. She stopped working to raise her family and went back to work when her youngest child was 12. She took great pride in being a wife and homemaker, and was a much loved wife, affectionate and doting mother, and adoring grandmother. Her excruciatingly diligent very early Saturday morning housekeeping duties that she attended to with gusto will long live on in her children's memories. The tasty dinners that Mary Lou created for family and friends for family gathers and holidays over the years will be long remembered. Through her husband Louis, she participated in numerous activities of I Fratelli di Canicatti, which is a social group of members who trace their lineage to the City of Canicatti, in Sicily. She enjoyed their numerous dances and holiday events, and cherished the friendships that developed over the years with other members and their spouses. The last dozen or so years she was herself a member of the Happy Seniors socialgroup at lmmaculate Conception Church and greatly enjoyed their camaraderie. lt filled the retired part of her life with fun and friendships that she sincerely cherished. She truly enjoyed all the group activities they engaged in and the numerous trips they took, both near and far. She was grateful for the travel she was able to experience during her life with her husband, children and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Mary Lou will always be remembered for her warmth, kindness, generous spirit, Friday night phone calls, and her truly wonderful cooking. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Michael and Anthony Routi, her nephews Ronald and Paul Routi, and her uncles Michael and Anthony Ruoti.