Maria Concetta Liparoto Cuccia, age 73, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, January 29, 2022, in her home surrounded by family.
Maria was born January 16, 1949, in Borgetto, Sicily, Italy. She was the daughter of Stefano and mothers MariaGrazia (Cannova) Liparoto and Vincenza (Mollisi) Liparoto. On March 22,1981, she married Vito Cuccia, who preceded her in death on October 30, 2013.
She came to the United States in 1969 and became a U.S. Citizen in 1997. Maria worked at Sisters Servants of The Immaculate Heart of Mary for many years. The Sisters helped Maria learn English and helped her gain her cosmetology license. After which she opened her own salon; Maria's Hair Styling; on Front Street. She eventually moved her salon into Norman Towers and continued there until her retirement.
Her Catholic faith was a pillar of her life. Keeping family, Sicilian, and Christian traditions was evident in how Maria spent her time, as a member of St. Michael Church and a Sicilian prayer group. Taking care of others was how she reflected her servant's heart and lived out her Faith. Maria cared for her family, visited with the elderly, cooked and delivered food to her past customers, and visited with the nuns at the Mother House. Maria leaves this world a legacy of Faith. She built her life and instilled the love of Our Lord to future generations and leaves behind a firm foundation.
Maria had a passion for Gardening and travel. Fresh food from the garden was shared and prepared in her Sicilian traditions. She explored many places in America. Over the years Florida became a place of sabbatical. The highlight of her travel chronical was her recent trip to Italy and Sicily to visit family and places of the heart.
Family meant everything to her, and she loved taking care of them. She is survived by her two daughters, Antonina "Nina" (Bradley Hartman) Cuccia of Monroe and MariaGrazia (Christy Calfee) Cuccia of Monroe; grandson, Vito G. Bray and adopted grandson, Logan Caudill; siblings, Maddalena (Dominic) Zanger, Grazia (Stefano) Biundo, Filippo (Giovanna) Liparoto, Leonardo "Joe" (Julie) Liparoto, Vito (Tamara) Liparoto, Rita (Salvatore) Polizzi; sister-in-law, Maria Liparoto. Her Godchildren Giacomo Zanger and Cathy Perna; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved as if they were her own children. Fur grandbabies, Willow, Cenzo, Django, and Lucy. Important people adopted into the family include Gary (Shanna) Bray, Jennifer (Ish) Amaya, The Knapp-Hartman, and Doll families. She held a special place in her heart for her dear friends who became as close as sisters to her: Lisa Rosselli, Lisa DeMarco, Josie Gaglio, Marianna Vitale, Rosa Amato, Rosa Bacarella, Josephine Giarmo and Charlotte VanWasshenova.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, Stefano Liparoto, MariaGrazia Cannova, and Vincenza Josephine Liparoto and brother, Frank Liparoto.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 4, 2022 from 2p.m-8p.m (Rosary to be said at 6pm) at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, She will lie instate at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 5, 2022 at St. Michael Church with a Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the family. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .