Obituary for Mary Totilo
Mary Totilo, 89, of Stamford, CT, died suddenly on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in her home surrounded by her loving family.
Born as Maruzza Pelli in Arena, Calabria, Italy on August 28, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Francesco Pelli and Fortunata Agostino Pelli. Her father emigrated to the United Stated in the 1920s, eventually having his family join him in the US years later. Mary, her mother, and her siblings, Catherine Gesualdi, and Anthony Pelli (both deceased) sailed on the SS Vulcania from Naples, Italy, arriving in New York on March 14, 1948, where she adopted the more Americanized name of Mary. She officially became a naturalized US citizen in 1962. Mary’s other sister, Felicia Pagano (deceased), emigrated to Australia.
Once in the United States, Mary found work as a seamstress, learned English, and fell in love with Joseph Totilo, whom she married on May 2, 1953, and had four children. After raising her own children, she enjoyed watching and caring for other children as well.
Mary enjoyed cooking, hosting company, and bowling. She was prolific in knitting. She delighted most in watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and telling stories about them.
Mary is survived by her two sons Michael A. Totilo, and his wife, Kathryn, of Stamford, CT and Frank J. Totilo, and his wife, Cindy, of Danbury, CT; two daughters, Jo Ann Totilo Russell, and her husband, Robert, of Newtown, CT and Mary Jo Totilo Crespo, and her husband, Alan, of Stratford, CT; eleven grandchildren: Brian and Kendra Totilo of Stamford, CT, Frank, Steven, Kevin, Nicholas and Zachary Totilo of Danbury, CT, Joseph and Jeffrey Brown of Newtown, CT, Kimberly and Andrew Rabita of Stamford, CT, and their spouses; and her nine great-grandchildren, Benjamin Totilo, of Stamford CT, Anthony, Lucas, and Abigail Totilo, of Danbury CT, Ava, Alyssa, and JJ Totilo, of Brookfield CT, and Joseph and Matthew Brown, of Newtown CT. As well as many cousins, nieces and nephews in the US, Italy, and Australia.
A prayer service will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10:00AM with Pastor Daniel Totilo officiating, at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave, Stamford, CT. Following the service, a funeral procession will leave the funeral home and proceed for interment at St. John Cemetery, Darien, CT.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, February 15, 2019 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Mary’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Building, Memphis, TN 38105
For online condolences please visit www.Cognetta.com
Born as Maruzza Pelli in Arena, Calabria, Italy on August 28, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Francesco Pelli and Fortunata Agostino Pelli. Her father emigrated to the United Stated in the 1920s, eventually having his family join him in the US years later. Mary, her mother, and her siblings, Catherine Gesualdi, and Anthony Pelli (both deceased) sailed on the SS Vulcania from Naples, Italy, arriving in New York on March 14, 1948, where she adopted the more Americanized name of Mary. She officially became a naturalized US citizen in 1962. Mary’s other sister, Felicia Pagano (deceased), emigrated to Australia.
Once in the United States, Mary found work as a seamstress, learned English, and fell in love with Joseph Totilo, whom she married on May 2, 1953, and had four children. After raising her own children, she enjoyed watching and caring for other children as well.
Mary enjoyed cooking, hosting company, and bowling. She was prolific in knitting. She delighted most in watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and telling stories about them.
Mary is survived by her two sons Michael A. Totilo, and his wife, Kathryn, of Stamford, CT and Frank J. Totilo, and his wife, Cindy, of Danbury, CT; two daughters, Jo Ann Totilo Russell, and her husband, Robert, of Newtown, CT and Mary Jo Totilo Crespo, and her husband, Alan, of Stratford, CT; eleven grandchildren: Brian and Kendra Totilo of Stamford, CT, Frank, Steven, Kevin, Nicholas and Zachary Totilo of Danbury, CT, Joseph and Jeffrey Brown of Newtown, CT, Kimberly and Andrew Rabita of Stamford, CT, and their spouses; and her nine great-grandchildren, Benjamin Totilo, of Stamford CT, Anthony, Lucas, and Abigail Totilo, of Danbury CT, Ava, Alyssa, and JJ Totilo, of Brookfield CT, and Joseph and Matthew Brown, of Newtown CT. As well as many cousins, nieces and nephews in the US, Italy, and Australia.
A prayer service will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10:00AM with Pastor Daniel Totilo officiating, at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave, Stamford, CT. Following the service, a funeral procession will leave the funeral home and proceed for interment at St. John Cemetery, Darien, CT.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, February 15, 2019 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Mary’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Building, Memphis, TN 38105
For online condolences please visit www.Cognetta.com