MARY LICIA PETRARCA VIOLI, age 88, of Indiana, PA, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2017 at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL. The daughter of Oreste “Domenico” and Angela (Monaco) Petrarca, she was born on October 27, 1928 in Rome, Italy, and was raised in Roccaraso, Provincia di L’Aquila, in the Abruzzo region.
After a year of college in Sulmona, L’Aquila, Mary, along with her mother and brother Michele Ippolito Petrarca, were forced to evacuate their beautiful villa home in Sulmona after learning the German army was going to bomb the town. Subsequently, within 24 hours they took only what they could carry and left the land they loved so well.
They came to the United States on January 13, 1947 by the naval ship Marine Shark, where they were finally reunited with her father after 13 years, who was working in Vandergrift, PA to bring the family to the United States while World War II continued in Italy.
Upon arriving in America, 19-year-old Mary entered first grade at Adams Elementary school to learn the English language. A mere 2 years later, Mary graduated from Vandergrift High School (now Kiski Area) and then attended the Commercial School in Arnold, PA. Mary started her career in Vandergrift at Rayborn Brothers Garment Factory.
After Rayborn, Mary worked for Pittsburgh Plate Glass for 2 years after which she worked at Alcoa Aluminum Company.
On May 30, 1953, Mary married the love of her life, Anthony “Tony” Francis Violi at St. Gertrude’s Church in Vandergrift with Fr. Emilian officiating. Mary and Tony resided in Indiana where they operated Violi’s
Market, a family owned business on Wayne Avenue. Everyone remembers the windows of bananas and many loved
the candy counter, especially children who often got free treats.
After her children were grown, Mary took a job as a Teacher’s Aide at Indiana Area School District at East Pike Elementary School, a position she greatly enjoyed for 31 years until retiring in June, 1999.
Mary was a devoted member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church in Indiana, PA, where she served as an Extraordinary Minister. A longtime member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas,
Court #339, she served the offices of Sentinel, Vice Regent, Regent, District Deputy, and both Vandergrift and Courts Coral Graceton.
She always went the extra mile for those who needed her, with constant visits to the area nursing facilities to bring communion to members of the CD of A. Mary never left without giving them treats of her homemade cookies and pizzelles and sometimes entertained with an Italian song or two. Her spaghetti sauce, (from her own home-grown tomatoes) along with her delicious meatballs were second to none.
Affectionately called “Nonna” by her grandchildren, she was a feisty Italian lady whose faith never waivered, even in the hardest times. She said the rosary daily and dedicated her life to her husband, children, and grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally.
Mary is now reunited with her loving husband Tony and is survived by a daughter Carolyn Violi, Birmingham, AL, son Domenick Violi, Stroudsburg, PA; grandchildren -Meredith Violi (College Park, MD); Madalyn Violi (Stroudsburg, PA); Dominic Violi (Slippery Rock, PA); a niece Angela Petrarca Angelini (Rome, Italy); numerous cousins and many loyal friends who never forgot to call or visit her. She loved to entertain in her home with edible goodies and always had a homemade pizza for those recuperating.
Thanks must be given to her primary doctors – Stella Boron and Edward McDowell of Indiana, PA and Andrew Duxbury in Birmingham, AL.
She was preceded in death by both her parents in 1972 and her most loving husband Tony Violi on January 25, 1988.
The family will receive visitors on Friday, August 25, 2017 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at Bowser-Minich Funeral Home in Indiana, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday
at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, Indiana. Interment will be made in the St. Bernard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court #339, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church, 200 Clairvaux Drive, Indiana, PA, or the Disabled American Veterans, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Room 1606, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
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