Mary Tucci

Agawam – Mary (Slepchuk) Tucci, 97, passed away at home on Thursday March 16th with her loving family at her side. Born in Springfield, MA to the late Ignat and Melania (Dorokopetcz) Slepchuk, she was a 1936 graduate of Commerce High School. In early years, Mary was employed with the Springfield Armory where she met the love of her life, Beniamino “Benny” Tucci who predeceased her in November of 2016. She later worked at Carter’s as a Seamstress for many years and owned and operated Benny’s Luncheonette in the North End of Springfield with her husband Benny. She was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in Agawam and a member of the Ball and Chain Bowling League for many years. Mary was an independent woman who loved her family dearly. She was an avid reader, especially of mystery novels, and enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing and her trips to the casino. She cooked every day, watching the cooking channel and always trying new recipes. She even won the apple pie contest for the Agawam Historical Society. Mary was also an avid sports fan, watching the Red Sox and the Patriots, as well as tennis, golf, football and bowling. Mary was even known to leave family gatherings, just so she could get home to watch her beloved Red Sox play. Besides her husband Benny, she was predeceased by her sisters, Melania and Alice Slepchuk and Ann Tilli and her husband Antonio; her brothers, Stephen Slepchuk and his wife Frances and Peter Slepchuk and his wife Gloria; sisters-in-law, Louise Davies and Ruth Slepchuck; brothers-in-law, Michael Tucci and Alex Kaiser and son-in-law, Jerry Sullivan. She is survived by her two devoted daughters, Marylyn Sullivan and Grace Tilden (Peter), all of Agawam; two brothers, Walter Slepchuk of Springfield and Nicholas Slepchuk (Beatrice) of Florida; sister-in-law, Sophie Tucci Kaiser; six adored grandchildren, Jerilynn Labas (Bob), Melissa Sullivan (Brenda), Thomas Sullivan (Suzanne), Kelly Sullivan Martin, Bradford Tilden and Amanda Fitzgerald (F. Scott); nine great-grandchildren, Alaina Martin, Daniel Sullivan, Meaghan Labas, Zachary Martin, Mackenzie Sullivan, Andrew Sullivan, Nicole Diffley (John), TJ Dean and Cortnee Blackie (Lincoln) as well as many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to meet for calling hours on Sunday March 26th from 12:00 noon – 2:00 PM at the Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main St., Agawam followed by a 2:00 PM service in the funeral home. Burial will be private for the family at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.forastiere.com

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