Marie Barresi

Marie Barresi, the beloved matriarch of our Sicilian American family. Marie was a 2-year resident of Middletown, New York and re-entry transplant from a 28-year-residency of Ocala, Florida whose devout Catholic faith girded her through unspeakable hardship and guided the morals she instilled in four generations of descendants living from New York to New Zealand for the better part of the last seven decades. She died December 21, 2025 while in hospice care with her daughter Mary by her side. She was 87 years old.
Marie Sacco was born August 24, 1938 to Rosario Sacco and Gaetana Capodicasa. She was the youngest of four children: Carmine (deceased prior to her birth), Gaspar and Leonardo.
Marie grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn where she derived gardening talents from her father. She became a voracious reader, graduating as valedictorian of the now defunct all-girls Catherine McAuley High School in Flatbush.
Marie didn't have to go far to find love: Salvatore Barresi grew up just two blocks away. They met when Sal, a neighbor boy, at 19 years old returned home on leave from the Air Force. The two courted and were soon engaged in March 1956 and married in December 1956. Soon after the Air Force brought them to Colville, Washington the couple started a family returning to New York with one child and continuing to have several more children upon military assignment completion.
The family put down roots in Woodhaven, Queens in 1969, never far from Marie's parents, where they'd gather with her and Sal's siblings for regular Sunday afternoon meals. Marie would never say no to sweets either as she loved dark chocolate, Kit Kats, Charlotte Russe cakes, and Creamsicles. Marie and Sal made lifelong friends with Bernadette and Brian Jones and many more treasured friends as well. Marie worked tirelessly helping others, including fostering two boys for more than a decade. She loved animals, taking in a number of rescue dogs, Scratchy, a family favorite and birds, including Cyrus, Aurora and Borealis. She was intensely involved in the community at St. Thomas the Apostle and served as a den mother for Joseph's Boy Scout troop. Marie worked locally in between her years staying at home, later earning pristine credentials as vice president of technical support at a health care products company in Manhattan.
Marie weathered her own battles, too. She beat breast cancer and lymphoma. And she suffered the biggest heartbreak any parent can handle. She lost both her sons: John, shortly after his birth in 1961, and Joseph, in a tragic 1979 vehicular accident at 19 years old. Marie kept Joseph's memory alive by forming scholarships at St. Francis Preparatory High School in Queens for many years and becoming premier sponsors amongst other outreach.
She adored being a Nana, enjoying many trips with her grandchildren. Marie also took her own trips around the world too. After magnificent summers in Lavallette, N.J. with her children and friends, Marie traveled with Sal across Europe. She fell in love with Paris. She met far-off family members in Belgium and remained in close contact with them for years. She visited Joppolo Giancaxio, seeing the home in Sicily her father left decades prior. She also flew to South Africa to meet her first great-granddaughter.
Upon retirement, Marie decided a life in a Florida retirement community was for her. An original resident of Ocala Palms, she cruised the streets in her golf cart. She became the best of friends with her neighbor Gladys O'Melko. Marie picked up a love for water aerobics, volunteering, teaching CCD, helping single mothers clothe and feed their children, serving at a soup kitchen, playing mahjong and mingling at events with the order of the Red Hat Ladies. Her favorite part of the week was video chats on Thursdays for years with her beloved granddaughter, Fallon, who honored Marie by making her the matron of honor in her wedding. For Marie's 80th birthday she chose a trip to visit Fallon in Buffalo, New York and they made memories of a lifetime. Fallon and Nana bonded a love and friendship touching both of their hearts deeply.
The time came to sell the Florida home and once again relocate back to New York. The couple decided to move to the beautiful Mid-Hudson Valley. There Marie rediscovered the beauty of spending time with family as Joseph and Fallon were able to visit Marie often with their children. Marie was able to spend many happy days enjoying the new landscape of maple and pine trees as well as the burst of colors brought about in Fall directly in her own backyard. The sight of bald eagles amazed her. She enjoyed walks and sitting on her porch saying the rosary daily, then spending time with family sharing food and stories and watching the children play. Holidays were celebrated together. Marie spoke of this bringing about peace and tranquility for her.
Marie is survived by her husband of 69 years, Salvatore, who cared for her during her final challenges, her daughters, Pauline (Scott Scalco), Mary (Eric Buck), and Bernadette (Michael Sullivan); eight grandchildren: Lisa (Len) Haasbroek, Daniel (Heather), and Christopher Nielsen; Erica, Joseph (Evangelia) and Fallon (Michael) (Hulle) Buck (with a daughter on the way); and Michael (Shannon) and Sarah Sullivan; and 14 great-grandchildren: Ashley, Chloe, Leonard, and Emily Haasbroek, Kimberly and Cassandra Nielsen, David Nielsen, Lillian Buck, Gregory, Ariana, and Nicholas Buck, Juliet Hulle, and Teddy and Dominic Sullivan.. She is predeceased by her sons, Joseph Barresi and John Barresi. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to your local soup kitchen or Kaplan Family Hospice Residence (Newburgh, NY) in Marie's name.