Rose Joanne "RJ" Mazzei

UTICA - Rose Joanne “RJ” Mazzei, age 75, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at MVHS at St. Luke’s Healthcare with her family by her side. Born in Utica on October 21, 1943, Rose was the daughter of the late Louis J. and Theresa “Lil” (Trivieri) Mazzei. She graduated from T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1961 and attended Mohawk Valley Technical Institute (MVCC) majoring in Secretarial Science. Rose was employed as the Secretary to the President at SUNY Institute of Technology, a position she loved until her retirement in 2005. She formed many lasting and memorable friendships there and cherished her time while working there. RJ never spoke with malice about others, and she was outgoing and well-loved by all. She gave the best advice when asked, and her motto was “Let it go”. She had an accepting attitude to all adversities in life. Rose was a constant in the lives of family members. She stayed close, and she loved and supported all the activities of her cousins Hailey and Michael. She was a participating part of the hearts of her cousins and was always comfortable and happy to be in their company. She enjoyed traveling with friends and visiting the Casino faithfully. She loved her cats passionately and always remembered her former felines who have passed, including Georgie, Miss Kitty, and Pumpkin. Rose was a woman of deep faith. She embraced the lessons of the parables as she participated in various Bible Study sessions with her cousin, Maria. She more recently attended Mass at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church. Rose is survived by her loving cousins including Richard and Maria Salamida, their children Tracy and Mike Bassett, and their children Hailey, and Michael Bassett, Mark Salamida and Stephen Mendrek, the late Joseph C. Salamida who passed away a few days earlier on August 22nd, and his wife Deborah; Fred and Andrea Faccioli, Carmen “Dusty” and Denise Faccioli; Gail Trivieri, Carmen Trivieri, and Tammy and Jim Kimball; and Douglas and Marylynn Trivieri. She was blessed with many friends, especially acknowledging Pam Fuoco, Mary Brown Depass, Carolyn Belmonte, and “Frankito”, as well as many others who were so much a part of her life. She was predeceased by a special uncle and aunt, John and Elizabeth Salamida; and aunts and uncles, Ann and Fred Faccioli, Alma Trivieri, Nicholas and Sadie Trivieri, and Orlando “Lefty” and Linda Trivieri. The family is grateful to Dr. Alicia DeTraglia, the personnel of the Oncology Department at Faxton Hospital, the 6th Floor staff at MVHS at St. Luke’s Healthcare; all were compassionate and kind; and Fr. Amedeo for his blessings and spiritual solace. The family commemorated Rose’s life at a private time. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Rose’s funeral service and Celebration of Life which will commence on Tuesday morning at 11:30 at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church where her Mass of Christian Burial will be offered. The family will receive visitors at the conclusion of Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in RJ’s honor may be made to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society online at https://stevens-swan.org. Envelopes will also be available at the service. Interment in Calvary Cemetery will take place privately at the convenience of the family.

Rose Joanne "RJ" Mazzei

October 21, 1943 - August 28, 2019