Mary Frances Cersosimo Ripolone

Mary Frances Cersosimo Ripolone took her final trip Friday, Nov. 23, 2018.

She was born Dec. 7, 1921, to Dominic and Frances Cersosimo into a very large family that only got larger as the years passed. Mary was one of 10 who joined a chorus of beautiful sisters, Catherine, Rose, Marianne and Frances and her band of brothers Lou, Joe, Anthony, Henry, and Ralph. Mary blazed her own trail in her day and was part of the rifle team in school, worked for the Navy during World War II and G Fox. She could make slipcovers out of flour sacks, arrange flowers that took your breath away and was an artist in her own right. Mary married Eugene "Rip" Ripolone March 3, 1943, and had five children: Jean, Jimmy, Mary Ann, Carol, and Mark, and we can't forget her three great sons-in-law, Charlie Smith, Ed Turner, and Paul Person, and her lovely daughter–in-law, Denise Ripolone, and her adopted daughter, Debbie Rutigiliano.

Married 45 years, Mary and Rip were known for their dancing. They spent time hanging out with the neighbors on Greenview Lane-Zaines, Giampolos, Ramseys, where the kids rode bikes, played kick ball in the street all under the watchful eye of the neighborhood. Every summer Rip and Mary would pack the family station wagon and head to Sanford, Maine, and we still are in awe how Mom stuffed that station wagon with two dogs, one guinea pig and Dad's parrot, Pedro, not to mention us. Only as we got older and started driving did we realize it doesn't take eight hours to get to Maine. Mom loved to antique shop and Mary Ann got the same bug with one turning into an obsession of Memory Lane dinner plates, which Mary Ann is now the owner. The lobster and clambakes where an annual event and Paul learned first-hand how to actually clean clams.

Mom loved her flowerbeds filled with red and white geraniums and the rose bush in front of the kitchen window was huge. Mom never needed a bouquet of fancy flowers. She was known for picking wild flowers and a bunch of weeds and arranging them into the most beautiful arrangement. Jean got Mom's talent for flower arranging and painting. The girls have flowers in their yards and a touch of Mom is hidden in those blooms.

Mom worked at G. Fox wrapping presents that would dazzle the present giver and receiver. Mom was crafty - she could whip up a slipcover, curtains quicker than anyone … but Carol has truly picked up this trait. Carol has learned how to "eye-ball" a piece of fabric and within minutes cushions are transformed. Mom and Carol were known for lugging around a sewing machine and the two of them made magic. Mom definitely gave Carol the "crafty" gene.

Mom loved to iron and listen to Dean Martin. It was not unusual to see racks of newly ironed clothes strung in the kitchen and not to mention the tablecloths. As for Dean, well she played those records so often you knew the next song before it started.

Now cooking was another story, it was not something Mom liked to do but she did make a mean golumpki, ask Mark. Mark had Mom wrapped around his little finger and when her baby put in his order, well that "little Italian" started whipping together enough to feed an army. We all headed home when we got wind she was cooking and the dinner conversation didn't always suit Mom well. From the discussion of worms, or some other gross story Mark would tell, we would be laughing and Mom would act like she hated it. Mom was a wonderful grandmother to Shelley, Jimmy, Chuck, Glenn, Amanda, Ashley, Samantha, and Katelynn. Cookies in the stove and little barrel drinks were always waiting. Sleepovers were a joy with tents, games and special treats you could only get at Granma's. Mom was a Great-Granma to Courtney, Alexandra, Jillian, Glenn Jr., Tyler, and Damien. She was a Great-Great-Granma to Aiden, the newest addition.

Mom and her best friend, Eulaine, were traveling buddies. Those ladies went from the Panama Canal to Alaska and all they needed was a deck of cards and a bottle of wine to make a memory. Mom would head to Florida and visit her sister, Frances and when Kay, Nick, John, and Frances played cards those very "proper" ladies where known to throw a few swear words around when the losing started.

Mom had a thing for rocks and on every excursion, she picked up a few. Debbie was one who would pick up Mom and take her on some special ride for ice cream or a bakery run just so the two of them could hang out on a beautiful day and rock hunt.

Mom woke up beautiful, hair never out of place and dressed to the nines. Mom lived her final years at Bickford Health Care Center in Windsor Locks and was known as "Grandma Mary." Many of the staff treated our Mom like their Mom. We especially thank Sophie who was very kind and we don't want to overlook others but we don't know everyone's name. A few are Robin, Chris, Patrice, Jessica, Tracy, and Don.

Mom, we will miss you dearly but we know you will be raising hell with Dad and Eulaine and your brothers and sisters.

Services will be held Friday, Nov. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels, 43 Shaker Road, Enfield.

Family and friends may call at the funeral home Thursday, Nov. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Memorial donations in her memory may be made to Bickford Health Care, Habitat Fund, 14 Main St., Windsor Locks, CT 06096.