Obituary of Mary Fragomeni

It is with bright sadness and grateful love that the Fragomeni family announces the death of Mary Veronica Aragosa Fragomeni. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family, in Malta, NY, on Friday afternoon, 29 August 2014. She was two months shy of her 94th birthday. Mary emigrated from Limotola, Italy (Province of Benevento) with her father, Pasquale Aragosa, her mother, Maria-Luisa Burro Aragosa, and her younger brother Francesco, "Chich," when she was 7 years old. Arriving by ship at Ellis Island, Mary and her family made their home on Alexander Street in Schenectady, NY. Soon after, Mary became a sister of two other siblings, Americo, named in pride, for being the first-born in the new country, and nicknamed, "Merf," and Gloria Aragosa Mastro. She was the last of her siblings to die. She loved them all and stood by their coffins with dignity. Mary graduated with honors from Nott Terrace High School. During her school years, and following graduation, she became an accomplished pianist, a true musician, technically and with heart. She shared her extraordinary musical gifts with many. She inspired those who visited her Cutler Street home with impromptu piano recitals. She ministered as parish organist at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Schenectady, NY, for over 35 years, playing at masses, funerals, weddings and devotional services. After her 90th birthday, she continued making music for all, as she moved her piano with her, living first at Kingsway Arms Community, Schenectady, and then at The Home of the Good Shepherd, Malta, where she died. She considered her greatest musical accomplishment, however, to be the gift of music that she passed on to her three children: Richard, Jack and Mark. She was especially proud of her son, Jack, whose musicianship in the jazz community, nationally and internationally, and, at the music departments of Schenectady Community College and the College of St. Rose, Albany, is still renowned, even after his death in April 2009. John J. Fragomeni married Mary V. Aragosa on 28 April 1946 at St. Anthony's Church, Schenectady. John was a WWII navy veteran and an electrical engineer with GE and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory. They were married for 55 years. John died on 9 September 2001, with Mary and his loved ones near. Together they raised a family on Cutler Street, Schenectady, where John had lived for almost his entire life. They had three children together. Mary worked as homemaker, tending to the needs of her husband and children and to those of her mother-in-law, Catherina Catalano Fragomeni, who lived with them for 20 years, following the death of her husband, Nicola. Mary was a woman of great wisdom. She leaves behind many aphorisms and a stunning example of how to live and die gracefully. On 8 February of this year, Mary gave testimony to her faith in Christ by asking that the following declaration, which she dictated, be printed on her memorial card and here in her obituary: If I had all the riches and money in the world, I would never have been able to afford all that God has given to me in my life…free of charge! It is with this sense of gratefulness that her family will celebrate her life and keep her memory. Mary will be waked this Thursday evening, 4 September, at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road Glenville, NY 12302 (518) 399-1630 from 6 to 8 p.m. Then, on Friday morning, 5 September, from 9 to 11 a.m., Mary's body will lie in state at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1255 Pleasant Street, Schenectady, NY. At 10:15 a.m., a memorial organ recital will be played by Maestro Carl Hackert, allowing the instrument, which Mary played for so many years, to exult again in her honor. The Eucharistic Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. All are welcome. Mary's body will be buried next to her husband, John, and her son, Jack, at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Schenectady, NY. Memorial gifts in Mary's name may be made to: The Jack Fragomeni Memorial Award Fund - The College of St. Rose, Albany, NY. This obituary is gratefully published by her family, who grieve the death of such a valiant woman: - her sons, Rev. Richard N. Fragomeni, of Chicago; Mark L. Fragomeni, retired deputy fire chief of the SFD, with his wife Michele and children, Michael, Jason and Nicole; Roswita Fragomeni, the widow of Mary's deceased son, Jack; together with an array of loyal nephews and nieces and a host of friends. We ask you to keep her memory, be inspired in your life by Mary to live and die well, and may the angels take her into paradise.