Santa (Marra) Banach

Santa (Marra) Banach, 85, of North Syracuse, NY passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital Saturday with family and friends at her side. She survived for over two years with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Santa was a graduate of Eastwood High School and worked as a dental assistant for a number of years before marriage and family. She returned to work in the late 1960s in the cafeteria at Webster Elementary School, Grant Junior High School (where she became head baker) and then retired from the kitchen staff at CBA. Santa enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends, especially around the holidays with her sumptuous Italian-American feasts. There was always room for one more at Santa’s table. She was famous for her special cakes, cookies, Italian pastries, pies and holiday breads, not to mention her meatballs and sauce. Early in retirement Santa enjoyed bowling and golfing, and later casino trips with her husband, especially to Atlantic City. She loved to eat out, often at Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club as a member for over 30 years. Santa was always ready to educate others on her kitchen talents and sewing, knitting and crocheting too. She also enjoyed watching her beloved Yankees and spending time with her extended family. A lifelong communicant of St. Peter’s Italian Church, she participated in and baked for many events and in her youth was a member of the Legion of Mary. Santa was also a member of the Daughters of Columbus. Santa was the third youngest child of Antonio and Pasqua (Gringeri) Marra’s twelve children. Santa’s husband of 56 years, Raymond A. Banach, died in January. She is survived by her two sons, Raymond A. (Linda) Banach Jr. of Liverpool and Robert J. (Michele Parisi) Banach of Chevy Chase, Maryland; three grandchildren, Lyndsey Rae Banach of Boston, Raymond A. Banach III of Liverpool, and Richard P. Banach of Maryland; three siblings, Margaret Marra of Syracuse, Laura Marra of North Syracuse and Nate Marra of Cicero; numerous nieces and nephews and their descendants as well as several godchildren and extended family. Funeral services will be held at 9:00 a.m. Friday at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME and 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, 301 Ash Street, Syracuse. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Contributions in Santa's memory may be made to Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, 301 Ash Street, Syracuse, NY 13208.

Santa (Marra) Banach

April 12, 1927 - November 10, 2012