Mrs. Concetta P. "Connie" DeCesare

Mrs. Concetta P. “Connie” (Santoro) DeCesare , age 93, of Utica, passed away peacefully on St Joseph’s Day, Saturday, March 19, 2016, with her family by her side. Born in Cisternino, Province of Bari, Italy on May 6, 1922, Concetta was the daughter of the late Martin and Marrietta (D’Aversa) Santoro. She immigrated to Utica at the age of nine and completed her elementary and high school education in Utica schools. In Connie’s later adult years, she was especially proud of continuing her education at MVCC. On October 20, 1945, she married Carlo J. “Carl” DeCesare, with whom she shared a blessed union of 45 years until his early death in 1990. Connie was a wonderful, faithful wife, a caring and loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and a delightful friend. Her positive, energetic, compassionate, and independent personality had a meaningful effect on everyone she met. Connie had a thirst for knowledge, was an avid reader, and eagerly shared her life experiences to help others. Her strong will and perseverance allowed her to meet adversity head on and was an inspiration to all that knew her. Her devotion to helping others led to working part time for B.O.C.E.S. as an assistant, helping new immigrants learn the English language. She was grateful for the friendships she developed and maintained from that endeavor. She was blessed, honored, and humbled to be recognized by her family and friends for her generosity, thoughtfulness, and caring for others with a glorious celebration of her 90th birthday. Connie and her family were grateful to those who provided services and friendship that was an integral part of maintaining her independence during her later years: Johanna and Dennis, Nicholas, and Carli Brenon; neighbors who became her second family. They would also like to thank her nieces and nephews, Annette and Francis Paparella, Armand and Natalie Festine, and Bernadette and Ralph Ventura; her brother-in-law, Joseph DiCesare; her cousins, Lorraine Post, and Anna Maria Leach; and Mary Ann Sbiroli from Independent Care. She will be reunited with her infant daughter, Carla Jo DeCesare, and her son Michael DeCesare who preceded her in 2001. She is survived by her two sons, Joseph DeCesare and Patricia Thompson of Tennessee, and Daniel DeCesare of Utica; her daughter-in-law, Mechtild “Mechy” and her husband Greg Smith of Florida; her granddaughters and their spouses, Carla and Craig Schwartz of MD, Lisa and Patrick Werbeck of OH, Monique and Shelly DeCesare, and Annika and Tim Seaton, all of Florida; her beautiful and beloved great-grand children, Samantha, Cooper, Michael, Olivia, and Elise. She will be remembered by her sisters-in-law, Helen DiCesare, and Angie and Jim Fitzgerald; her brother-in-law, Joseph DiCesare; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, in laws, and friends. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. In order that the traditions and ceremonies of the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week may be respectfully and properly observed, Connie’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will commence on Thursday morning at 9:30 from the funeral home and 10:30 at St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church with Rev. Mark A. Kaminski presiding. Entombment will take place at Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum in Holy Trinity Cemetery.

Mrs. Concetta P. "Connie" DeCesare

May 6, 1922 - March 19, 2016