Vincenza "Chancy" Tortora's Obituary
Vincenza Tortora passed away peacefully on July 6, 2016, at Loretto Nursing Home in Syracuse, NY.
Vincenza “Chancy” was born on November 19, 1920 to A. Salvatore and Felicia (Fiore) Notaro, in Utica, NY. She was the second of four children. As a young girl, her family moved to Syracuse, where Chancy remained a lifelong resident and received her education from the Syracuse Public School System.
On August 3, 1940 Chancy married Anthony (Tony) Tortora in a traditional Italian wedding at Our Lady of Pompei Church. They remained married for almost 70 years until Tony’s death on May 25, 2000. Their union produced their beloved daughter Marie.
At an early age, Chancy began working for The First Trust & Deposit Corp., later Key Bank. During her nearly 40 year career with the bank, she received numerous awards from both the bank, and the local women’s business community.
Chancy had few hobbies or interests outside of her family. Both her and her husband’s parents had been born in “the old country” and had brought their rich traditions and culture with them. Family was the center of their lives. Her pride as a first generation Italian American had no limits. She passionately embraced the regional traditions of her mother who hailed from Pisa (Tuscany), her father who was from Nicastro (Calabria) and her husband’s family who came from Naples (Campania).
Chancy would often say with a smile and a good heart, “there are two types of people in the world; Italians, and those who wished they were”. That pride and respect of heritage shaped all that she was, as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, big sister, aunt, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and eventually a great- grandmother.
Chancy’s passing, at age 95, marked the end of her generation. With such a long life, she out lived her husband Anthony; her daughter Marie Isaacs; her parents; her brother, Ralph C. Notaro; her sisters, Sarafina Notaro and Angela (Notaro/Circello) DeSantis and numerous sisters and brothers-in-law. She is survived by her granddaughter, Sara Isaacs and great-grandson, Antonio Isaacs, her nephew and godson, Salvatore Ralph Notaro; nieces, Diana (Circello) Cua, Felicia (Circello) Clark, Linda (Notaro) Fry and Laurie (Notaro) DeRouchie; sisters-in-law, Joan A. Notaro, Mary Tortora, Rita Tortora, and Susan Tortora; a brother-in-law, Pat Tortora, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews on the Tortora side of her family and grandnieces on the Notaro side of her family.
She was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery with her parents, husband, brother and sister and beloved daughter. May she reunite with all those who she loved and who loved her.
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