Mary Grace Bruno Fraccola, 105, a lifelong resident of Darien, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 20.
Mary Fraccola, 105, passed away on Dec. 20. Her funeral will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
Mrs. Fraccola was born Nov. 8, 1911 at the family homestead in Darien, still standing on Linden Avenue. She was the first of nine children born to the late Agostino and Rose Conti Bruno and, remarkably, was the oldest living Bruno family member outliving all her siblings.
Mrs. Fraccola’s husband, Anthony R. Fraccola, predeceased her in 1977 as did her son, James J. Fraccola, earlier in 2016, along with her eight siblings Gustavo Bruno, Josephine Lombardo, Benjamin Bruno, Chiva Penna, Elizabeth Journalist, Joseph Bruno, Rose Papp and Tessie Sniffen.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Colleen Doyle Fraccola of Darien and Jensen Beach, Fl. and also six grandchildren, Anthony (Stephanie) Fraccola of Knightdale, NC, Tracey Hanold of Colorado, Christine (Aaron) Smith of Georgetown, Colo., Kingston (Samantha) Fallon of East Greenwich, R.I., Bruce (Christopher) Long of Milton, Mass. and Trina (Thomas) Erhard of Heber City, Utah, along with 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
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— an obituary from Edward Lawrence Funeral Home
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After marrying her larger-than-life husband, Anthony Fraccola, they became proud owners of Tokeneke Limousine Service. In their retirement years, they enjoyed traveling and spending time at their other residence in Hallandale, Fl.
As a homemaker, Mary’s kitchen was the lifeblood of her home. A wonderful cook always with an apron around her middle, anyone showing up at her door knew there would always be a place set for them at her table.
Cups of tea, chatting for hours and reminiscing about family, friends and the good old days growing up in Darien were what continued to make her later years so happy.
Even as she got older and everyone’s lives around her got busier and busier, her extended family, neighbors, Darien Senior Center acquaintances, and her close contacts at St. John Church never forgot her. She felt she was truly blessed.
As everyone who knew her can attest, Mary Grace Fraccola never thought ill of anyone, and even if she did, she kept it to herself. Not a bad word about anyone, nor a profanity ever crossed her lips. What did cross her lips were some wonderful original “Maryisms” — her words of wisdom and her little phrases that made us all chuckle.
Our family would like to thank Mary’s two devoted caregivers, Enid Newby and Veneta Anderson, extended members of the Fraccola family, for their devotion, love and caring ways to Mary bringing much joy and happiness to her during the last years of her life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at St. John Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Interment will immediately follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.