Obituary for Mary Francisco (Colangelo)
MARY FRANCISCO, centenarian, Voorhees--Former Mount Laurel resident and area local Mary Francisco, 101, died peacefully on Friday, May 29, 2020, at Brandywine Living in Voorhees surrounded by her loving family. Beloved wife of the late George Francisco and predeceased by her brother Amadeo Colangelo, she will be forever missed by her three children, Georgiana, Geri Delissio, and George (Patricia), grandsons James (Jazmin) and Michael (Mary) and great grandchildren Michael, Nicholas, Mia, Victoria and George, nieces Barbara, Marlene, and Mary Ann Colangelo, as well as many friends and extended family.
Born Mary Colangelo in Ossining, New York on August 2, 1918, to longtime Ossining business owners Anthony and Adeline (nee Peanamenda), Mary graduated from Ossining High School in 1936, after which she attended business school and pursued a career as a children’s wear buyer. In 1946, she married George Francisco and resided in Ossining for over 50 years. There, she was an active member of the Church of St. Ann and served as secretary to the principal of St. Ann’s School. They then relocated to the Washington, D.C. area where they lived for 14 years.
Mary retired to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1986 prior to relocating to Mt. Laurel, NJ fourteen years ago. On her 100th birthday she received birthday wishes from President Donald J. Trump and centenary blessings from Pope Francis and Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton Michael J. O’Connell, C.M.
She will be remembered for her boundless energy, for the care of and helping others, and her love of cooking, travel, and collecting recipes. She attributed her longevity to “a passion for life, a love of God and people, and drinking Kombucha tea.”
The family would like to thank the staff of Brandywine Living at Voorhees and give special recognition to her aides and nurses there and from Samaritan Hospice and Healthcare in Voorhees for their compassionate care.
A private graveside service will be held at Quantico, Virginia where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mount Laurel Funeral Home, www.mountlaurelfuneralhome.com, where condolences can be placed. For those who wish to honor Mary, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Samaritan Hospice and Healthcare, 265 NJ-73, Voorhees Township, NJ 08043 or https://samaritannj.org/giving/donate-now/#1.
Born Mary Colangelo in Ossining, New York on August 2, 1918, to longtime Ossining business owners Anthony and Adeline (nee Peanamenda), Mary graduated from Ossining High School in 1936, after which she attended business school and pursued a career as a children’s wear buyer. In 1946, she married George Francisco and resided in Ossining for over 50 years. There, she was an active member of the Church of St. Ann and served as secretary to the principal of St. Ann’s School. They then relocated to the Washington, D.C. area where they lived for 14 years.
Mary retired to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1986 prior to relocating to Mt. Laurel, NJ fourteen years ago. On her 100th birthday she received birthday wishes from President Donald J. Trump and centenary blessings from Pope Francis and Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton Michael J. O’Connell, C.M.
She will be remembered for her boundless energy, for the care of and helping others, and her love of cooking, travel, and collecting recipes. She attributed her longevity to “a passion for life, a love of God and people, and drinking Kombucha tea.”
The family would like to thank the staff of Brandywine Living at Voorhees and give special recognition to her aides and nurses there and from Samaritan Hospice and Healthcare in Voorhees for their compassionate care.
A private graveside service will be held at Quantico, Virginia where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mount Laurel Funeral Home, www.mountlaurelfuneralhome.com, where condolences can be placed. For those who wish to honor Mary, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Samaritan Hospice and Healthcare, 265 NJ-73, Voorhees Township, NJ 08043 or https://samaritannj.org/giving/donate-now/#1.