Mary T. Tortora's Obituary
Mary T. (Claps) Tortora, 82, of Syracuse, passed away Thursday at Community General Hospital. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on November 2, 1929 to Vincent James "Jimmy" Claps and Isabel (Carracao) Claps. Mary worked in the family business, Ralph James Traveling Lunch Car, Avon, H.W. Smith Elementary School in the cafeteria and finally as a teller for Key Bank at the Eastwood Branch Office. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Pompei/ St. Peter Church and was a member of the Pompeian Golden Agers and also served as treasurer. Mary loved cooking and family gatherings. For the past four years, Mary, formerly a resident of Eastwood, was a resident at Loretto Health and Rehabilitation, Cunningham, 6th Floor. The family extends their gratitude and appreciation for the care Mary received from the dedicated Loretto employees. She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, Ralph Tortora in 1992 and her son-in-law, Thomas Santillo in 2005. Mary is survived by her son, Ralph D. Tortora, III and his wife Deborah of Syracuse and daughter, Maria Santillo of PA; grandchildren, Daniel Tortora, Christina and Bernie Looney and Stephanie Santillo; great-grandson, Mason Thomas Looney; brother and sister-in-law, Anthony and Louise Claps; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Chancy and Rita Tortora, Patrick and Sue Tortora and Carmen and Mary Surace along with several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 9:00 am in the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME and 10:00 am in Our Lady of Pompei/St. Peter Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Entombment will follow in 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 Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 441 W. Kirkpatrick Street, Syracuse, NY 13204.
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