Mary (DeLeonardis) Cocco

LORAIN - Mary Cocco passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 17, 2017 after living a full life and raising a wonderful family.

Mary was born in Lorain, OH on April 17, 1923. A lifelong resident of Lorain, she was a graduate of Lorain High School, class of 1942.

Mary first dated Anthony "Tony" Cocco on a blind date in January 1942 before Tony left to serve in World War II. He returned on leave in May 1944 to ask Mary to marry him. He then went back to the front lines and participated in the D-Day invasion of Europe in 1944. On February 16, 1946, they were married in St Peter’s Church. Together they went on to have three children, Dennis, Ronald and Christine.

Mary will be remembered for her love of family and her church. Her love of family was highlighted by her great cooking that included Sunday spaghetti dinners and her passion to make the best and widest variety of Christmas cookies. Her pizzas were welcomed (and almost expected) at all the family gatherings. Her love of family extended to working to help pay for the education of her children. Her mastery and precision of the dry-cleaning press was renowned. She insisted on pressing every child’s and grandchild’s graduation gown.

Mary loved art and demonstrated an exactness in painting ceramic figurines which filled her home. This continued until the last few weeks of her life where she used color pencil art to create wonderful images.

Mary also loved her church! She and Tony worked tirelessly to help at various church festivals and fundraisers. Jeanne Cocco always said that Mary had a pipeline to heaven. When someone in the family needed special prayers, everyone went to Mary Cocco. She cherished dozens of prayer rosaries and prayed them daily. Over the years, Mary belonged to many faith-based organizations including St. Francis Mission and St. Peter Seniors.

Mary is survived by; sons, Dennis Cocco, and Ronald Cocco, spouse Linda; daughter, Christine Esser, spouse David; grandchildren, Jason Cocco, spouse Kristen, Jonathan Cocco, spouse Amy, Michael Esser (Grace Shallcross), Amy Esser (Kim Griech), Mindi Flynn, spouse Guy, and Christopher Cocco; and great grandchildren, Jack, Anna and Kate Cocco, Addison and Grayson Cocco, Kadence and Aspen Esser and Harper Flynn. She is also survived by sister, Lena Raymond; brother, Achilles DeLeonardis, spouse Lois; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years of marriage, Anthony Cocco; parents, Dominic and Christine DeLeonardis; daughter-in-law, Jeanne (Dennis) Cocco; sisters, Olga (Wayne) Hogrefe, Clara (Louis) Dobos, Ida (Bud) Walters; brother, Dominic (Aileen) DeLeonardis; brothers-in-law, Wayne (Lena) Raymond, George (Rose) Cocco, Michael (Kate) Cocco, and Thomas (Irene) Cocco; and sisters-in-law, Vera (Thomas) Hernon and Julie Cocco.

The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain, (440)244-1961 on Friday, June 23, 2017 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Closing prayers will be held at the funeral home on Saturday June 24 at 8:50 am.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30am, Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St. Peter Parish, 3655 Oberlin Ave., Lorain, OH 44053, Fr. Craig M. Hovanec, Pastor, officiating. Christian burial services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain, OH. Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Notre Dame - Chardon Province, 13000 Auburn Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 or to the St Peter’s Capital Fund. Online condolences and gifts of sympathy may be shared with the family by using www.rsgfuneralhome.com