Mary Novema Puglisi

“To love and live beloved is the soul’s paradise”

Our beloved Mother, Grandma, and Great-Grandma, Mary “Aprile” Puglisi, passed into paradise on September 8, 2018 in Rhinebeck, NY after 94 full years of life. She was born in North Rutherford, NJ on April 30, 1924 to Robert Chanfer and Filomena Silvestri, originally from Pacentro, Italy, the ninth of their 10 children. Mary worked for most of her life as an expert seamstress, for years employed in a bridal store, and then co-owned a custom dressmaking shop in Tuckahoe, NY. She came from an artistic family and in her later years loved painting and ceramics, as well as gardening and playing cards. But her true occupational excellence was as Mother to her two children and kind-hearted friend to everyone that knew her. She was the last of her generation in a large extended family, all of whom will miss her dearly.

Mary married Frank S. Puglisi on November 19, 1944 at Immaculate Conception Church on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, NY. Her husband of almost 50 years died on July 26, 1994 in Toms River NJ.  She is survived by her son, Kenneth Puglisi, from Chicago, IL and her daughter, Roberta Puglisi, of Rhinebeck, NY. Her loving grandchildren include Laura Puglisi Rupsis and Rachel Puglisi Ashamalla of Chicago, IL, Mark Puglisi of Phoenix, AZ, Ethan Puglisi Clarke of Coral Gables, FL and Rayna Puglisi Clarke of Kingston, NY. Mary especially delighted in her seven great grandchildren: Matthew and Mia Channell, Samantha and Charlotte Rupsis, Emily and Owen Clarke, and Madeline Ashamalla.

The family will hold a memorial gathering for family and friends at the Westchester Funeral Home, 190 Main Street in Eastchester, NY on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 9:00 am, followed by a 10:30 Funeral Mass at the adjacent Immaculate Conception Church, 53 Winter Hill Road, Tuckahoe, NY. A private burial for family members will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Mary’s name be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN, 38105. 

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