Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Auricchio's Obituary
Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Auricchio, 86, went to be with our Heavenly Father on September 18, 2023.
As a devout Roman Catholic, she lived her faith as a wife, mother, educator, artist, and civil rights activist. Above all, Mary Ann was a woman who loved all people. She positively changed the lives of people from many backgrounds and walks of life.
Born May 20, 1937, to Michael J. And Mildred (Seiler) Fitzgerald in Brooklyn, NY, she attended Marymount Manhattan College before moving to Syracuse with her family. She later graduated from Le Moyne College with a BA in the honors program.
Mary Ann met Dominick at a Catholic spiritual group. They married in 1964 and celebrated their 59th anniversary in July. Mary Ann and Dominick were highly committed to civil rights. They belonged to seven civil rights groups.
She also had a powerful voice. Dominick and Mary Ann belonged to several church choirs in Cocoa Beach, FL and Syracuse, NY.
An avid sportswoman, May Ann worked with the Syracuse Chargers swim team. As an accomplished swimmer, she regularly medaled at the Empire State Games. She was also a member of the ADK, a great skier, and a sailor.
She taught English at Grant Junior High School. She retired after six years to raise her three children and remained active in education by serving on several school boards.
Mary Ann continued her education at Syracuse University, earning an MFA in Illustration. A BFA Suma Cum Laude in Sculpture followed. Honors include the Sylvia Wyckoff Book Award and induction into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Her artwork has won national awards in several categories, from painting to sculpture and fiber arts. Mary Ann's artistic achievement was a life-sized ceramic statue of Mother Marianne Cope. She found her inspiration after surviving a devastating bout of shingles. While recuperating, she read a book about Mother’s work with lepers in Malakai, HI. Mary Ann gifted the statue to Assumption church in Syracuse, NY.
Mary Ann is survived and celebrated by her husband, Dominick; a daughter, Theresa (Kevin); two sons, Nicholas and Michael; three siblings, Michael (Margaret) Fitzgerald, Martin (Linda) Fitzgerald, and Jacqueline Fitzgerald Kavanaugh; 11 nieces and nephews; cousins: Henderson, Seiler, Fitzgerald, Tambaro, Pragiola, Auricchio; and numerous adoptive family, Preeti Rankhambe, Rohit Salve, Kabir Preeti Salve, Nathan Hawthorne, Lorraine Stanton, the Monroe family and Ari Gibs, Kathleen Gettman and the Scheeler family.
A Funeral Mass in celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 in Assumption Church. A private burial will be in Assumption Cemetery.
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