Mary S. Morello

Mary (Pignataro) Morello went home to God Saturday, May 21^st, 2022.

Mary had a wonderful, long and healthy life.  Her faith in God was strong and she enjoyed many blessings.  She would have been 97 in July.

She was the daughter of Umile and Valencia Pignataro.

Mary graduated from Girls Trade School and went on to work at Davey’s Handbags. 

Mary was a talented seamstress making draperies for her home and clothes for herself and her children.

She met her husband John who had returned to his family’s home on Norfolk Street in Worcester after serving 5 years in the 1^st Division during WW2.  They had 4 children within 5 years. They were living at the Curtis Apartments when the tornado of June 9, 1953 struck Worcester.  Mary’s picture and her story of what it was like to survive the tornado were featured on the front page of the Telegram & Gazette for the 50^th anniversary of that storm.

Mary was again on the front page of the Telegram & Gazette for a story the paper did on the 75^th anniversary of D Day.  For that article, Mary discussed the pride she had regarding her husband’s service during WW2. 

Later in life, Mary attended classes at Quinsigamond Community College and received her day care license.  She worked at Happy Day Nursery School for many years.

Mary and John were the first to have a season pass for the Jazz at Sunset Concerts held at the Worcester Science Center/Ecotarium.  They loved attending all outside concerts throughout the city. They were also members of the Frohsinn Club where they enjoyed ballroom dancing.

Mary and her husband, John, were among the founding members of our Lady of Loreto Parish. She was active in the Women’s Guild, Beato Angelo Society and the many festivals and events.

Her beloved husband, John, died in 2006 shortly after they moved to Colony III Apartments.  They had been married for 59 years.  After his death, she became a Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception Church and volunteered at the Guild of St. Agnes Day Care for children. Mary also became the lector during weekly Masses at Colony III apartments.

She later met George Markey, and they became engaged.  They and enjoyed each others company for many years until George’s passing.

Mary leaves her only surviving sibling, her sister Sylvia Murphy and her husband James.  She also leaves her three daughters Mary Margaret Bennett and her husband Dallas Wait; Christine David and her husband A. Jeffrey; Regina Savageau and her wife Jodi Meehan; and her son, John V. Morello, Jr. and his wife Janice.

She is pre-deceased by her brother Frank Pignataro and sister Evelyn Ventura.

She has six grandchildren, Paula Bennett, Michael Bennett, Stephen and Thomas Blondin, Matthew Morello and Angela Case as well as eight great grandchildren, Pari, Charlie, Ryan, Rebecca, Rita, Leo, Josephine, Juliana and her many nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank the staff at Oriol Healthcare and Notre Dame Hospice for their loving care.

Calling hours are Thursday, May 26^th, from 4 PM until7PM at MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA.  Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM on Friday, May 27 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 33 Massasoit Rd., Worcester, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 33 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604 or online at https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/olmc@oll.