Obituary of Mary Ann Cotroneo

Celebrating a Life Well Lived Mary Ann Cotroneo died peacefully at home on June 26, 2014 in the loving presence of her daughter and granddaughter. Mary was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania on May 24, 1917 to Samuel Mennito and Angela Pettinato Mennito. She graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in Carbondale in 1936. On September 4, 1937 she married Paul S. Cotroneo.Their only child, Margaret Mary Cotroneo, was born on April 12, 1942. The family resided at several addresses in Carbondale but resided on 42nd Street with Paul's parents for most of that time. The large extended Mennito family was a wonderful and nurturing environment. While in Carbondale, she was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church. In 1952, for reasons of Paul's health, the family, including Paul's parents, moved to Yeadon, Pennsylvania where many of Paul's relatives resided. Paul found work and renewed family ties to the large extended Lippre family network. Paul preceded Mary in death on May 11, 1966. Mary continued to live in the house they shared on Angora Avenue, often spending time with Margaret and her family who lived nearby in Drexel Hill, Penna. She was a nurturing and active part of Melissa's life, staying overnight to be with her while her parents were away, attending all her events and even traveling out to college to visit her. Sunday dinners were at Mary's house. Mary was a member of St. Louis Church in Yeadon. Mary was a housewife during her married life. Widowed at age 49, she learned how to drive and was employed as a physical therapy assistant at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania. She excelled in her work and the ten years she spent in the Physical Medicine Department were among the happiest of her life. She built a network of friends, some of which continued to her death. She was able to travel abroad to Italy and she happily expanded her world of activity and learning. In 2004, Mary moved to Reston, Virginia to live with her daughter and to be closer to her granddaughter, Melissa, and Melissa's family. This also brought her closer to two of her sisters, Theresa and Catherine, and their families, and she made new friends among the neighbors. She was an avid reader of novels, loved interesting conversation and enjoyed short trips to many parts of Virginia. She read the Washington Post and the New York Times daily from cover to cover and was always eager for conversation on current events. Until she became too ill to travel, she visited her sisters and their families with whom she shared wonderful holiday gatherings. Later she called them daily, inquiring about their health, their families and offering advice on good health habits. A great source of joy was watching her great grandchildren grow up and being part of their lives, She marveled at all that they were accomplishing at such a young age. While in Virginia, Mary was a member of St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church. Mary is survived by her daughter, Margaret, her granddaughter Melissa Farrace, Melissa's husband Robert Farrace, her great grandchildren, Christian and Nicole Farrace, her sisters, Frances Zazzera in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, Catherine Muia in Baltimore, Maryland and Theresa Buonomo in Silver Spring, Maryland. A brother, Joseph Mennito, preceded her in death. Faith, family and friends were always at the center of Mary's life and they sustained and nurtured her until her death.