Isabelle Ann Massa

Isabelle Ann (Poddi) Massa, 81, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at her home in North Greenbush, N.Y.
She was born Dec. 29, 1942, in Utica, N.Y., the oldest of three daughters of Orlando Poddi and Elizabeth Sitera.
Isabelle attended Washington and Kernan schools. She was a 1960 graduate of Utica Free Academy, where she was a member of the Phi Beta sorority.
She would often reminisce about swimming at Utica's Addison Miller Pool, roller skating along Burrstone Road and attending block dances on the Parkway. Her first job was at the Avon Theater on Lafayette Street.
Isabelle married Mario P. Massa Jr. on Aug. 22, 1960. The couple were married for more than 60 years until Mario's passing in 2021.
Together, Isabelle and Mario ran Mario's Pizza from 1972 to 1984.
The couple moved to Chadwicks, N.Y., in 1963 and later to Sauquoit, N.Y., in 1975. There, Isabelle enjoyed raising her family, cooking, entertaining, being part of the community and attending the many sporting events of her children and later her grandchildren. Over the years she washed countless soccer, baseball and basketball uniforms!
Isabelle loved meeting and talking to people, and seemed to strike up new friendships everywhere she went, from day trips to doctors appointments, often tracing those new acquaintences back to a Central New York connection. During her time as a resident of Summit at Eastwyck she enjoyed many outings, group activities, birthday parties, poker games and happy-hour gatherings. During the past two years she was also thankful to have been able to attend the many concerts of her grandchildren.
Survivors include her sisters, Amelia Poddi and Linda Lazarek, both of Florida; son John (Susan) of New Hartford, N.Y.; daughter Maria (John) of East Greenbush, N.Y.; and five grandchildren, Jordan, Jake, Nicholas, Shea and Holly. She is also survived by nephews Joseph Massa; Mario (Colleen) Massa; Paul Poddi and Mark Lazarek; niece Gina (Jim) Palmer; cousin Lillian Spaziani and her daughters, Donna Castronova and Darlene Torchia; cousin Richard Ahmed (Barbara Gasserlick); cousin Mary Lou Mazza; and cousin Anna Marie Holman.
Isabelle also leaves behind many old friends, including Phillip and Arlene Dahdouh and family; Alta Leuschner and her girls; Jean and Edward Hunt and family; Carolyn Szarek; Edward and Candy Collins; Doris and Bob Hale; Carol Herbowy Stoltenberg; the DuRoss and Carcone families; and Theresa Flemma. She will also be missed by her new friends at Summit at Eastwyck, especially Doris and Ed Collins, Lillian Varga, Lou Bacon and the rest of the Thursday afternoon happy-hour group. She is looking forward to once again seeing old friends Sara and Ed Falvey; George and Dorothy Mishalanie; Tie and Bea Williams; Loretta Marks; and Ann Firsching who was like a mother to her.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Smith Funeral Home, 3022 Oneida St, Sauquoit, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 3364 Oneida St., Chadwicks, N.Y. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 2407 Oneida St., Utica, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, Isabelle's wish is that you renew an old acquaintance. Call an old friend and invite them over for tea or join them for lunch.