Mary Massaro

Mary (Caravello) Massaro was born on March 5th, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY to Vincenzo (Vincent) (also known as Jim) Caravello and his wife Letteria (Casella) Caravello. Her father was from Milazzo, Sicily and her mother from Roccavaldina in the province of Messina Sicily. The youngest of 3 children, she survived her two brothers, Rosario Caravello and Camillo (Charles) Caravello. When Mary was a young age, she travelled with her family by ship to visit relatives In Sicily. Her two older brothers stayed in Sicily with relatives to attend grammar school, while she travelled back with her parents to attend school in Brooklyn. She reunited with her brothers when they were Jr. High School age and had returned from Sicily to complete their education in Brooklyn. Her mother taught her the skills of clothing making, and after she received her Girls Commercial High School Diploma in Dressmaking and Dress Design, she worked in Manhattan as a seamstress for Sacks Fifth Avenue Dept store. She made clothes for celebrity clients, one of which was Marlene Dietrich. Her parents bought a summer bungalow in Wurtsboro, NY, where she would invite her many friends from the city and share good times with family for years. She met her husband, John Massaro, at a church dance Hall. John worked as a pharmacist. They married on June 11th, 1955. They moved into an apartment on the 5th fl., (in a building with no elevator) in Bensonhurst , Bklyn. After her father died in 1959, Mary, John, and her mother moved to a rowhouse in Bath Beach. John was hired as a pharmacist at Sea View Hospital in Staten Island. Mary wanted to change careers and worked in lower Manhattan for various banks. In 1968 the family sold the bungalow in Wurtsboro and Mary, John and Letteria moved from Bath Beach, Bklyn to a house in New Springville, Staten Island. She commuted to work via the Staten Isl. ferry. Later, she worked in the finance department of Bayley Seton Hospital on Staten Isl. In the early 1980’s, Mary and John travelled to Europe and revisited relatives in Sicily. She stopped working after her mother died in 1985 and her husband retired as head Pharmacist. John and Mary were the consummate host and hostess for all parties and holiday dinners for friends and family. They enjoyed many trips and activities such as bowling and especially golf. They attended numerous operas and Broadway plays. In 1987 they moved to a 55+ adult community in Columbus, NJ and continued their lifestyle. John had musical talent and joined the Homestead Ramblers Jazz Band and the Golden Eagle Band. Mary sowed uniforms and sold tickets. After John died in 2001, she continued her activities. She knitted and crocheted many beautiful items for friends and family. In 2019, Mary moved to an independent living apartment at the Masonic Home in Burlington, NJ. She enjoyed her 5 years there until she fell and broke her right femur in August of 2024. In October she was transferred to Granville Place Assisted Living, but her health continued to decline. She died on December 21st, 2024 at Virtua Hospital, Willingboro, NJ at the age of 97. Mary was pre-deceased by: (2 nieces) Patrice (Caravello) Foster and Christine (Caravello) Goodman. She is survived by: (nieces) Camille (Caravello) Slawinski , Joanne Caravello, and (nephew) James Caravello; ( grand niece) Sofia Caravello and (grand nephews) Matthew and Vincent Slawinski, among others. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 10-12 PM at Perinchief Chapels, 438 High St., Mt. Holly. Funeral services will be held at 12 PM at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Wrightstown.

Mary Massaro

March 5, 1927 - December 21, 2024