Mrs. Anne (Tartaglia) Martinelli

Mrs. Anne (Tartaglia) Martinelli, age 71, of Utica, passed away on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Center with her loving family by her side. Born in Utica on July 10, 1940, Anne was the daughter of the late Raffaele “Rufus” and Bertha E. (Sokolowski) Tartaglia. Raised and educated locally, she was a 1958 graduate of T.R. Proctor High School. At one time she was married to Salvatore Famolaro and to that relationship came to blessing of four children. Anne was a well-trained telephone operator employed by the N.Y. Telephone Company and several local businesses in this chosen position. She took a reprieve from the workforce to raise her family, and then enrolled in nursing school. Her training yielded her a job as a hospital clinical assistant for the State of New York. Lastly, she dedicated herself to private duty home care from which she derived great satisfaction. Anne entered into another union with Dominic D. Martinelli on July 8, 2006; they were devoted to one another and were the love of each other’s lives. Anne had an affinity for people and a caretaking capacity came easy to her because of her deep-seated compassion. She had an adoration for children, especially small babies with their innocent smile and unconditional love. She was an eloquent entertainer and cook and was masterful at decorating for each holiday, especially her favorite, the Christmas season. She was endowed with a unique sense of humor, a generous nature, and a fun-loving personality. Her phone calls “just to talk” were plentiful, and she also had an extra sense, and was always one step ahead of her children whom she loved more than her own life. She dealt with each of life’s trials and tribulations with determination and great strength of character. She was a woman of great style in apparel and home decorations, and had a flair for the finer things. She enjoyed the excitement and adventure of New York City and the theater, although some of her best summers were spent at Sylvan Beach. She saw God’s love in animals, especially her pet birds, felines, and dogs, and because of her special connection to them, she treated them like humans. She was a communicant of St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church. Anne is survived by her husband, Dominic; her children and their spouses, Claudia A. and James M. Hyatt of Utica, Gina M. and Thomas J. Cusworth, Sr. of Cicero, and James A. “Jimmy” and Charlene Famolaro of Marcy. Always close to her heart was the memory of her infant son Paul who passed away in 1967. She also leaves her grandchildren, Brianne Fontaine, James M. II and Lisa Hyatt, James and Lena Famolaro, Nicole Famolaro, Paul Famolaro, Joseph Famolaro, Thomas Cusworth, Jr., and Kevin Cusworth; her great-grandchildren, Angelina and Isabella Famolaro; and twins Vincent James and Cecilia Rae Hyatt; her step-children, Daniel and Christine Martinelli, Christopher Martinelli, and Elizabeth and James Nickas; step-grandchildren, Santino, Cosmo; Isadora; Daniel and Alexandra; and her brother, Michael J. Tartaglia of Utica. Her extended family includes her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws, Debra Tartaglia, and Elizabeth Hlavaty. Anne has known the friendship of many people in her life, but shared a great closeness and admiration for Alice Amodeo, and Harise Rizvanoevic who was her caretaker. She loved, tended to, and was loved by “Rocky”, her beautiful Shitzu. She was predeceased by her brother, Rufus L. Tartaglia, Sr. in 2002; and her sister-in-law, Patricia Tartaglia. Family members offer heartfelt thanks to Dr. Thomas John and his staff for their outstanding, compassionate care; the nurses and staff of the Intensive Care Unit at the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Center, especially Kelly, for rendering professional care that assisted the family in maintaining Anne’s dignity; and her neighbors who were wonderful and supportive friends. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Expressions of sympathy in the form of donations in Anne’s memory may be made to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society, or Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. in honor of the programs they offer to the community; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Anne’s funeral service and Celebration of Life will commence on Thursday morning at 9:00 from the funeral home and at 10:00 at St. Anthony & St. Agnes Church where her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Entombment will take place in Calvary Mausoleum.

Mrs. Anne (Tartaglia) Martinelli

July 10, 1940 - September 4, 2011