Marie Emmi Mangano

Marie Emmi Mangano, who was equally at ease behind the counter of a Liverpool farm stand or in a New York City opera house, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013 after a brief illness. She found beauty in nature, which she spread as the subject of her award-winning paintings. She found joy in a resplendent holiday table crowded with family in the Camillus home she designed. She found peace in her faith. Marie, 83, was predeceased by her husband, Salvatore (Sam) and her son, Michael. She was born on Syracuse's Northside, though spent much of her youth on her grandparents' Chittenango muck farm, balancing her time between piano lessons and picking onions. In an era of limited opportunity and cultural bias, she earned degrees from Syracuse University, while spending weekends and summers at her family's Emmi's Farm Stand in Liverpool. She became a biology teacher in the Baldwinsville School District, but her real calling was as a wife and homemaker, and her true laboratory was her kitchen. While mainly known for her weekly batch of bread and springtime strawberry festivals, it was her sponge cake that took the grand prize at the 1978 New York State Fair, winning her the cutting edge appliance of the day, a new microwave oven. Romance came to her in the old world way when, on a visit to his Sicilian home town, her father identified Salvatore as a young man who would be a fitting suitor. Letters and photos crossed the Atlantic. A match became a marriage of 55 years. She was generous with her time, talents and treasures to many causes, particularly the parishes where her family worshipped. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church. Marie is survived by her brother, Carmen Emmi, and her sons, Rocco (Roberta) Mangano and Anthony (Christi) Mangano; her daughters, Rosemary (Alberto) Bianchetti and Angelina (Vincent) Falotico; family friend Kathy (Essig) Chiodo; and her grandchildren, Maria, David, Salvatore (and his fiancée, Brianna), Elena, Emily, Julianna, Tess, Anthony, Maria Teresa and Grace. Marie also had aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews in Central New York and abroad. Marie's family is grateful for the compassionate care provided by family and friends and the health professionals at Crouse Hospital and Syracuse Home. Relatives and friends may call Friday, May 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus. Services will be at noon Saturday, May 11 at the funeral home and at 1 p.m. in Holy Family Church. Entombment will be in the Sunset Atrium, Woodlawn Mausoleum, Syracuse. Contributions may be made to Joseph's House, care of Holy Family Church, 127 Chapel Dr., Syracuse, N.Y. 13219.