Patricia Martucci

Patricia Martucci, 93, of Yonkers, New York, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, quietly entered into the kingdom of God on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at Windmere Christian Home in North Haledon, New Jersey where she resided for a short time.

The daughter of Pasquale and Eva (Wasslowsky) Alberetti, she was born in Brooklyn on March 26, 1932. She and her sisters, Jacqueline (Dolce) and Paula (Lisnak), enjoyed a traditional life in Yonkers, residing in the Dunwoodie area for 90 years – she was one of the original "Dunwoodie Kids." She was deeply proud of her Yonkers roots and talked often of her days growing up on Nanny Goat Hill, attending P.S. 17, and working in her parents' produce store on New Main Street.

In 1952, she married Dominick (Tommy) Spinelli Jr. of Mount Vernon. Tragically, their life together would be cut short when Dominick died in February of 1953 at the age of 23 as the result of a medical condition. This was devastating to Pat, and she receded into her life working as a window dresser in Jean's Dress Shop. Ernst Kahn, a German Jewish refugee, would admire her work and offer her a position as a window dresser at his shop, Popular Cottons, where she would become their assistant manager and work for many years, taking pride in assembling their windows. Her sense of style was always impeccable. She took great care in her own appearance, always staying in step with current fashions and maintaining a love of decorating and keeping her home just so. Just so meant her daughters learned how to iron like professionals, hang curtains, wash windows, make hospital corners on beds, cook Chicken Pasquale, and vacuum – lots and lots of vacuuming.

In 1954, knowing that Pat needed to return to finding joy in life, a mutual friend from the local roller skating rink suggested to John Martucci that he get in touch with Pat. John had just returned from his service in the Army in Korea and was also looking to reassemble his life. On January 6, 1954, he picked her up after choir practice at Mount Carmel Church and they went on their first "date" for coffee at the diner. Pat and John would marry on October 1, 1955 and for 55 years remained so. They were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Aimee and Randi, and later with five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Together, they would joyfully attend every event that involved their grandchildren, including school plays and musical performances, dance recitals, baseball and soccer games, graduations and weddings. John's employment at Pan American Airways would provide for special trips to Puerto Rico, Bermuda, France, Italy, and Hawaii. But the most memorable vacations would involve visits with family to Wildwood, Mantoloking, and Hilton Head Island. Inevitably, Pat would neglect to pack some article of necessary clothing or gear and that would become a good-hearted standing joke for the years to come.

Pat and John were surrounded by family always and were a doting aunt and uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. Their closest friends were Dolly, John's sister, and her husband, Sonny Troccoli. Christmas Eve and the Feast of the Seven Fishes at their home was an epic tradition that continues to be carried on today by their family members. Among other things, we learned how to open clams, clean shrimp, properly set tables, and make everyone feel welcomed – because everyone dropped in during the night, that was a guarantee.

A proud and life-long active member of the High School of Commerce Class of 1949, Pat was blessed to have been able to maintain friendships with a group of her close-knit gals from childhood. Known as "The Club," Connie, Dora, Rita, Terry and their spouses would meet each month for coffee and conversation. These "meetings" would go on for more than 50 years. Annual Christmas parties and summer picnics at Tibbits Brook Park would include their families that grew larger and larger with each passing year. As the years passed, the women in the Club would continue to lean on each other, sharing their highs and lows and staying in phone contact and meeting as often as possible for extended luncheons that would now include their grown children as escorts.

After the birth of their children, Pat would leave her job as a window dresser and focus on working alongside her father in local restaurants where he was an extraordinary chef. She would waitress in the evenings at Torino's, the Midland Rendezvous, and the Italian Village in Yonkers. She would later spend many years at Gregory's Restaurant in White Plains until she retired in 1995 to help take care of her grandchildren.

Pat is predeceased by her husband, John, her parents, as well as maternal uncles John and Michael Wasslowsky and aunt Sally Maccariello, her cherished sister Jacqueline (Jackie) and brother-in-law Gaspar Dolce. She is survived by her baby sister Paula Lisnak and daughters Aimee and her husband Steve McLean and daughter Randi and her husband John Balletta, and grandchildren Stephen (Sarah) McLean, Jaclyn (Timothy) Bassett, Holly (Daniel) Lim, John (Elizabeth) Balletta, and Randy (Emily) Balletta. Precious great-grandchilden include Evelyn, John, Cate, Julie, Declan, Carolina, Mackenzie, Lucy, Charlotte, Siena, Leo, and future Baby Lim. Special thanks for taking extraordinary care of Pat is extended to her friend Nanna and family Steven and Vickie Troccoli who always looked out for her well-being.

It would have pleased Pat to know memorial donations in her memory would be sent to the Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides pregnancy options, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds and consultations, located at 75 Ellison Street in Paterson, New Jersey or at www.lighthouseprc.org.

The family will be present on Tuesday, August 19th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Ruggiero & Sons, Inc. Funeral Home & Cremation Services – 732 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 20th at 10:00 AM at St. Ann's Church – College Place & Smart Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704. Following the Mass, Patricia will be laid to rest with her husband at Ferncliff Cemetery – 280 Secor Road - Shrine of Memories - Entrance 3 - Hartsdale, NY 10530.