Sestito, Mary J.

 July 3^rd, 2024 Mary Sestito passed away at 101 years old.  She was loved by many and known for her kindness and caring for others.  Mary was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph Sestito.    She is survived by her sons Joseph and David, daughter in-laws Beth and Eileen, plus grandchildren Laura and husband Brett, Michele Sestito, David Sestito, Gabrielle (Sestito) Higgins and husband Jerry, great grandchildren Violet and Victor Higgins, Jaelyn, Kealee, and Alivia Oberer.  Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday July 11, 2024, 10AM at Church of the Assumption, 20 East Avenue, Fairport.

Mom was born and lived on Jackson Street in Geneva through her early 20’s.  She met her future husband Joe at the dances held at Roseland Park in Canandaigua. They were married October 1947 and resided on Water Street in Fairport upstairs from Butch and Mary Santillo until moving to Nelson Street in 1956. She resided there through her 100th birthday before spending her last year and a half at Aaron Manor.

Mom worked 40 years at the American Can Company. She started working on the lines, eventually working her way up to inspector. Retired at age 65.

Mom was always family oriented. When we were kids, took vacations to Niagara Falls, Lake George, Old Forge, and the like. Sometimes mom and dad would round us all up and we’d get in the car and just go for a long drive in the country, usually with a stop for ice cream somewhere along the way. Saturday nights we all went to the Quonset Inn for burgers and fries.  Every Tuesday it was Grandma Sestito’s  for macaroni.  And who can forget the 40 plus years the Sestito family gathered at our house for Christmas Eve.  It was a time of conversation, food, drinks, laughs, and more times than not, those old home movies! With mom’s family, the back yard family reunions were filled with games, swimming, and plenty of food. There were various holiday get togethers, baptism’s, communions, and confirmations, along with weddings and anniversary parties too many to mention. 

Together, mom and dad did everything together.  People often said you rarely saw one without the other. They loved to travel. Las Vegas once, sometimes twice a year, Atlantic City, Florida, the Catskills, and cruises during their younger days.  Later were day trips with the church, or with Perinton recreation seniors.  Mom made it a point right to the very end to tell dad, us, and others;

 “No regrets – we did it all!”

After Dad passed, mom flourished on her own.  She went to bingo, plus continued to take advantage of Perinton Recreation senior outings, particularly the casino trips.   She, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Rose, along with others, met every weekday morning at McDonald’s. Every Friday mom would get her hair done, followed by Pokeno at the Rec Center. Every Saturday morning was our traveling breakfast bunch. She also attended 4:00 mass every Saturday.  And of course, was always involved with family, particularly as a proud grandma and great-grandma.

Mom was nothing if not resilient. She survived a number of health issues, including THREE bouts of breast cancer, two occurances of rectal prolapse surgery, and contracting and surviving Covid at 100 years old. It’s not surprising she got the nickname of “The Energizer Bunny”, as whatever the obstacle, she would push through it and come out the other side drums a pounding!

Yes, mom lived a long, fulfilled life,certainly along with its ups and downs, joys and heartaches.

But through it all we can be thankful she left this earth content and a peace.

 In the end, that is all that really matters.

Love, her boys,

Joe and Dave.