Mrs. Palma Marie (Palmisano) Percola

UTICA – Mrs. Palma Marie (Palmisano) Percola, age 94, a lifelong resident of Utica, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025, with her family by her side after a long and courageous battle with Lewy body dementia. Palma was born on August 24, 1930, to the late Leonardo and Mary (Maida) Palmisano. She attended local schools and graduated from T.R. Proctor High School in 1948. On August 23, 1952, Palma married Nicholas John Percola. They shared 67 years of love together until his passing in 2019 and had four children. While Palma worked for a time at the General Electric Co. and PJ Green Inc., her main focus was always her family. Palma was loving, resilient, and kind, providing strength and comfort to all that were lucky to know her. Her generosity inspired those around her. She enjoyed reading, baking, and dining out (but only if a restaurant offered dessert). Palma loved big band music, especially Frank Sinatra and Frankie Laine – one of her most treasured memories was meeting Frankie Laine after a show. Later in life, she embraced travel, spending time each summer with her daughter in New Jersey, taking her first plane ride at 75 to attend her granddaughter’s wedding. Palma cherished her time with family, especially during the holidays, summers with her grandchildren, and weekly coffee dates with her cousins. Palma leaves behind a legacy of love in her four children, Laura and Dave Battelene, Kim DePastene, Michael Percola, Maryrose and Scott Tucker, and Angela Percola; six grandchildren, Amber and Bryan Preston, Tiffany and Zach DeLuca, Christopher DePastene and Lesley Smith, Dr. Alexandra DePastene, Alyssa and Josh True, and Nicholas Percola; eight great-grandchildren, Alex, Bella, and Emily Rose Preston, Elliot, and Anderson DeLuca, and Salvatore, and Luciano True; and one great-great-grandchild, Lilith Preston. In addition, Palma leaves behind her sister-in-law, Mary Percola; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and cousins, including her family in Port Chester. Palma will be happy to be reunited with her loved ones who passed before her, her husband, parents; her son-in-law, Jim DePastene who predeceased her by two days; sister and brother-in-law, Rosemary and Robert Paciello; in-laws, Catherine Percola, and Valentino (Wally) Percola; and many friends and cousins, especially Elizabeth “Betty” Alsheimer, and Rose Madia. The family would like to send their heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff at the Masonic Care Community of NY, especially Naomi, Illyana, Leah, Mary, Vicky, and other staff of the Monticello neighborhood, who provided Palma with dignity, love, and care for the last seven years. Your kindness and compassion are worth more than you will ever know. Visitation will be held on Wednesday April 9, 2025, from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial contributions in Palma’s honor may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., which Palma always supported in her mother’s memory. Donations can be made online at https://hospicecareinc.org/; envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Palma’s Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life, which will commence at 1:30 p.m. that afternoon at Historic Old St. John’s Church. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family. This tribute to Palma’s life has been lovingly written by her family.

Mrs. Palma Marie (Palmisano) Percola

August 4, 1930 - April 4, 2025