Mary J. DiRocco Crusie
Our Mother, Mary J. DiRocco Crusie of Wappingers Falls, NY, died Friday, June 8, 2012. Her family was by her side at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie, NY. Mary was born on June 12, 1920, in Wappingers Falls, NY. On June 12, Mary would have celebrated her 92nd birthday. Mary was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Filomena Moriello DiRocco. She attended local schools and graduated from Wappingers Central High. She also worked at IBM for many years. Mary was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church, in Wappingers Falls, NY.
On September 11, 1940, she married William M. Crusie, in Beacon, NY, at St. Joachim’s Church, sharing 53 years of marriage, until Bill’s death in 2003. Mary is survived by her loving children; daughter, Mary Ann Rose; son, Kenneth Crusie and his wife, Theresa; grandchildren Lynne (Andrews) and husband, Tim Morrell, Brian Andrews, Gregory and Ashley Crusie and great-grandchildren, Timothy and Daniel Morrell. She is also survived by her brother, Tony DiRocco. Mary was a proud Aunt to her many nieces, nephews, their families, and leaves behind many special friends, who will miss her.
Mary was predeceased by her parents; husband, William M., in 2003; son, William M. Crusie, Jr. in 1969; and grandson, James M. Andrews, in 2001; brothers and sister-in-laws, Joseph and Teresa DiRocco, Raymond and Rosemarie DiRocco and Tony’s wife, Harriett DiRocco.
Mary gave her time to local organizations including Castle Point Verterans Administration Facility, Meals-On-Wheels, volunteering as an active member of Gold Star Mothers, the Mother’s Guild at St. Mary’s Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of V.F.W. Post 5913, since 1946. She spent hundreds of hours (352 hours in 2011) volunteering at Castle Point. Every week, as she had for over 25 years, Mary packaged and delivered Meals on Wheels. Mary became an American Gold Start Mother (a national organization formed to provide support for mothers who lost children in service to our country), and participates in their many activities. Through these activites she met General William Westmoreland at a Gold Star Mother’s Event at West Point, Bishop Dominick J. Lagonegro, Sacred Heart Chruch, Newburgh, and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NY. She also had the honor of placing a wreath at Arlington National Cemetary at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. In the end, Mary believed that you will be judged not by what you accomplish for yourself, but by what you do for others.
Her crowning accomplishment was recently being recognized as the Dutchess County female Senior Citizen of the Year by the Dutchess County Office of the Aging. County Executive Marc Molinaro presented her with the award and many other local dignitaries, friends and family were in attendance to celebrate this special occasion with her on May 21, 2012.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Edward K. Schneider, and Vassar Brothers Medical Center, South Circle 6 nursing staff, for their care and compassion.
Calling hours will be held Monday, June 11, 2012, from 4:00-7:00pm at Delehanty’s Funeral Home, 64 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY. A catholic mass and burial will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Church, 11 Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls, NY, with burial following at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Mary’s memory to American Gold Star Mothers Inc. (AGSM), Chapter 31, c/o Renatta DeAngelis, 37 Neelytown Rd., Campbell Hall, New York, 10916.
Arrangements under the direction of the Delehanty Funeral Home, 64 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.delehantyfuneralhome.com.
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