Mary Theresa Caruccio

Mary Theresa Caruccio passed away October 18, 2023. She was 88 years old.  Mary grew up in Jersey City, NJ, the daughter of Martin and Madeline Calabrese Caruccio, and moved to Bayonne in 1977 with her parents, whom she cared for throughout their life. 
Mary started work at age 16 at W.T. Grant department store. Upon graduation from Holy Rosary High School, she worked on Wall Street at Manufactures Hanover Bank where she had many stories of exciting responsibilities and times with the company choir. She later decided to go to college to earn her education degree and taught in elementary schools in Bayonne and Jersey City. As she neared retirement, she even learned new computer systems for teaching. 
She shared her musical gifts with the congregation at St Vincent de Paul Church as a Cantor for a number of years, and always enjoyed playing her piano at home.  She played piano until last week, and subscribed to both the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet for a number of years.  She spoke fondly of her trips to New York, and was thrilled when some of her nieces and nephews became involved in the arts over the years. 
Mary was always up for learning something new, and got her driver’s license in her 30s. While those who know her well know she didn't drive much, she relished being able to take her car out. 
Mary loved visitors, and welcomed all with an Italian feast typically including ravioli, her famous meatballs, lots of antipasto, delicious pastries, and vanilla ice cream, of course. She also encouraged banana consumption, as well as brightly colored fruits and vegetables. She, like her father Martin, was a self-described "health nut" and prodded herself to eat nutritious and delicious foods. 
She favored listening to music, but also enjoyed watching channel 13's programming of various music histories. 
She spoke fondly of traveling by train growing up and had the opportunity to visit Miami, California and even Mexico and Canada.  Her later years were spent mostly visiting family in Delaware and in New Jersey as well as monthly trips to New York City for the opera and the ballet.
Mary had compassion for all she came into contact with.
Mary is survived by her brother, John (Marianne), her nephew, John (Janet), nieces, Andrea (Lee) and Lisa (Ed), and several great nieces and great nephews whom she adored, and papered her home with all the photos sent over the years.  She is predeceased by her parents and many dear cousins and friends.
Friends are invited to celebrate Mary's life at Bayonne Memorial Home on Friday, October 20, 2023.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service taking place at 10:00 a.m.  Entombment will then take place at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington. A Memorial Mass will take place in Delaware at a later date.
Contributions in Mary Theresa's memory may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Church, 979 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002.

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