Mary S. Schiazza

ROTTERDAM- Mary Schiazza, 96, went to meet her precious Lord while at home with her family by her side on Friday, February 21, 2025.

Mary was born on October 21, 1928 in Schenectady, NY to the late Camillo and Nicola Pitaccio.  She graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and spent 20 years working as a secretary at the General Electric until 1966.  She married her beloved husband, Fernando Schiazza in 1955, and they enjoyed 65 joyous years together before his passing in 2020.

Mary had 3 priorities in life – God, her family and friends who were like family, and her home.  She spent her time in prayer and cooking for everyone who passed her way.  She also spent 30 years as the bookkeeper for her husband’s GMC truck dealership, often staying up into the wee hours, singlehandedly doing the job of several people, to ensure the business ran smoothly.   Her faith was always at the core of her identity, and she was a lifelong communicant of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church and a member of the OLMC women's society.

Mary will always be remembered by her loved ones for her unwavering generosity-of-spirit. She was gentle, kind, and unassuming, but surprisingly strong and resilient. When times were tough, she was a steady presence for those in need.

She is predeceased by her parents, her loving husband, her sister Leonella Welch, her best friend of over 85 years Beatrice Rossi, and her son-in-law Randy Bowers.

She leaves behind her precious only daughter Mary Ann Cady and son-in-law Keith Cady, her cherished granddaughter Maranda Bowers and her fiancée Becca Butler, her treasured step-grandchildren Brian and Rochelle Cady, Joseph and Christine Persico and Christopher Buckland, as well as her great-grandchildren Chelsea and CJ Persico whom she adored.  She is also survived by her niece Patti (Pat) Mahoney, great-niece Kelly (Marc) Mahoney, nephew David (Lisa) Welch, great-niece and nephew Mackenzie and Elizabeth Welch, Sandra Rossi Troiano who was like a daughter to her, and several godchildren.

Our family extends endless gratitude to her angels on earth Janine Lawrence and all of Community Hospice of Albany, Craig Ritchie, NP, of Homemedical Associates and to her tireless caregivers Josephine Peek, Rochelle Cady, and Keith Cady whose complete devotion allowed her to remain at home, as she wished, in her last years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mary's funeral Mass on Friday February 28, 2025 at 11 am in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church 1255 Pleasant St. Schenectady. The family invites all who were touched by the extraordinary lives of Mary and Fernando to a memorial celebration in May, details to follow.

Donations in Mary’s memory may be sent to Community Hospice of Albany or Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Schenectady.