Mrs. Ann P. (Scalzo) Coriale

UTICA – Mrs. Ann P. (Scalzo) Coriale, age 75, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, August 30, 2025, encircled by the love of those closest to her. Born in Utica on September 11, 1949, Ann was the daughter of the late Anthony and Christine (Plescia) Scalzo. She was a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School/Class of 1967. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Utica College of Syracuse University and subsequently completed graduate work in education. On June 7, 1969 Ann was joined in matrimony with Benjamin Coriale. Through their 56 years of marriage they remained by each other’s side, in sickness and in health, just as they vowed to do so many years ago. Ann’s empathy, intelligence, and love for children made her a natural teacher. She began her 35-year teaching career at St. Francis DeSales School and moved to Mt. Carmel School before landing the most difficult and rewarding job she would ever have: serving the public as an English teacher in the Utica City School District. Ann taught at almost every school in the district and was a beloved member of the English department at every one. She taught alongside her mother Christine, with whom she shared a classroom and a love of Shakespeare that stayed with her until the end of her life. She worked year round, day and night, for most of her career: she taught summer school, tutored homebound students in the evening, and even taught night school for a time. Ann loved all of her students and had a special place in her heart for underprivileged children. She believed in their potential and nurtured their ability to learn and find meaning in literature. No matter the difficulty of the material, she made sure that every student in the room understood the lesson and found something relatable in the literature they read. By the time Ann retired in 2005 she had taught thousands of students who will carry on her legacy in ways both large and small. In her retirement Ann found a calling perfectly suited to her heart and craft — as the Obituary Composer for the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc. With a steadfast devotion to every word and an unwavering eye for grammar and punctuation, she believed that every life deserved a story told with dignity and grace. Each obituary she wrote was more than an announcement; it was a final gift, lovingly composed to capture the essence of a life well lived. Ann was both a gentle soul and forceful will, a rare combination that made her unforgettable and impossible to refuse. When she wanted to do something she did it regardless of obstacle — whether it was building a stone hearth by hand or sending her children to college or simply bringing beauty into people’s lives. She appreciated the beauty in all things — birds, rocks, crystals, wildflowers — and she loved to transform the most ordinary objects into colorful reminders of the natural world. She loved literature, poetry, and music and her wide-ranging tastes included everything from Wordsworth to Led Zeppelin. But most important to Ann was her family; she loved them more deeply and more fiercely than anything in the world. She always put their needs before her own and lived a simple life so those she loved could have more than she did. She was animated by an unparalleled spirit of generosity and would truly give her last penny to help somebody in need. For as much as she loved beauty, she never found the need to buy it — she created it instead and discovered it in the world around her for free. And she found it most often in people. She was curious about their stories and appreciated the differences that make everyone unique and special. Most importantly, she believed in the goodness of people and had a profound faith in humanity that will live on in her children and everyone who knew her. Ann is survived by her husband, Benny; her children and their spouses, Dr. Michael and Mariangela Coriale, and Drs. Danielle Coriale and Ross Barrett; her beloved grandchildren, Victor Coriale, Nicholas Coriale, and Michael Coriale Jr.; and William Barrett; her siblings and their spouses, Dr. Anthony and Josephine Scalzo, and Gina and Chris Contento; in-laws, Carm and Joe Artessa, and Barbara Coriale; her nieces and their spouses, Christina Contento Goo and Andrew Goo; and Gina and Bill Bienkowski; her nephews and their spouses, Drs. David and Cathy Scalzo; Dr. Nicholas Contento; Anthony and Diana Coriale, and David and Lisa Coriale; Joseph and Sarah Artessa, and Mark Artessa; and many cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives, and cherished friends, especially Dolores Dorozynski. Ann was preceded by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Benjamin Jr. and Mary Coriale; her sister-in-law, Darlene (Coriale) Morgan; and her brother-in-law, Anthony Coriale. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Ann’s medical team at Mass General including Dr. Aron Rosenstock, Dr. Eric Nou, Dr. Torunn Yock, and Julia Kenney, and to Dr. Alicia DeTraglia, Dr. Daniel Goodman, and Stacey Jaskolka, who managed her care in Utica. They are also grateful to Christine and Liza for the gentle and compassionate care they provided at the end of Ann’s life. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. For those wishing to do so, please consider memorial donations in Ann’s honor to the American Cancer Society online at www.cancer.org/donate; envelopes will also be available at the funeral home. You could also honor Ann’s legacy by performing a kind deed. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Ann’s Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life, which will commence on Friday, September 5, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel/Blessed Sacrament Parish, 648 Jay St. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery at the convenience of the family. This obituary was composed by Ann’s daughter, Danielle.

Mrs. Ann P. (Scalzo) Coriale

September 11, 1949 - August 30, 2025