Mary Louise Elena Dallessio

November 9, 1932 – September 26 , 2010

Mary Louise Dallessio (nee Scannicchio), 77, of Somerville passed from this world on September 26, 2010. She will be missed for the smile she brought to the faces of family and friends.

Born in Manville, Mary was the 6th child of Thomas and Elena Scannicchio. While a student at Bound Brook High School, she worked as a waitress at Colonial Farms to take care of her mother and younger siblings. She later studied at night at Rutgers while working as a secretary at American Cyanamid and as a dance instructor at Arthur Murray’s in New York City. Mary also managed Young’s Market, a family business.

She met the love of her life, Thomas “Sonny” Dallessio and after a wedding in January 1958, she moved to Somerville and became the proud mother of 3 boys, Frank, Tom and Joe. Her cooking was renown, including homemade lasagna, pineapple upside down cake and strufoli. Juggling family life with volunteer work, Mary was a Cub Scout Den Mother for her sons. She was also an active member of the Somerville Civic League, and rose to become President as well as an officer of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs. For a number of years, Mary would lead young women at Girl’s Career Institute at Douglass College.

Mary was an artist who delighted in painting, crocheting and pressed flowers. Her home is graced with many of her award-winning works. She learned the piano at a young age, and played the saxophone in high school band.

She loved the Jersey shore, and spent over 50 summers at Long Beach Island. There, she took her sons to Flamingo Golf, crabbing in the bay, and swimming in the ocean. She loved to body surf and take night walks with her husband to watch the stars over the ocean. She also enjoyed travelling. Her excursions ranged from Alaskan glaciers to the Caribbean beaches, the Panama Canal to the Vatican and on to Athens. On a trip to Italy in the early 1970’s, Mary met her cousins and recalled stories of relatives far away.

Mary leaves her husband, Sonny, and sons Frank, Tom and Joe and daughters-in-law Kelly, Kathy and Elizabeth. Her six grandchildren, Samantha, Shelby, Nikki, Jack, Alexandra and Andy will miss her too. She is also survived by her sisters Ceil, Jane and Emma, and brothers Joe and Tom as well as other dear family and friends. Mary joins her parents, brothers Frank, Renny and Bobby and other deceased family in heaven.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am on Thursday, September 30 at the Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Ave., Somerville. Interment to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manville. Visiting hours are from 2-4pm and 7-9pm on Wednesday, September 29 at the Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Ave., Somerville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Somerville Civic League, 785 Mountain View Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.