Mary Pusateri Rocca 1904-2003

PUSATERI, GERACI

Posted By: Michael (email)
Date: 11/28/2003 at 16:34:32

Mary Pusateri Rocca, 99, of Iowa City died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 27, 2003 at Mercy Hospital following a short illness.

Mary was born on July 25,1904 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Geraci Pusateri. Her parents were of Italian descent and moved from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. They ran a fruit market in downtown Iowa City. At that time many children, including Mary and her brother Gus, were raised in the downtown area. Mary was the last surviving child of those children raised downtown. Mary was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. She married Peter A. Rocca at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City on June 24, 1926. They celebrated 58 years of marriage. Peter died in 1984.

Mary stayed at home to raise her children and later was a pastry baker at St. Mary’s and Horace Mann School. She enjoyed baking, especially pizza and sweet rolls, gardening, sewing, puzzles and playing the piano.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, who was deeply religious and prayerful. Mary was a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Altar and Rosary, a 75 year member of Catholic Daughters of America and the NAIM Club.

Mary is survived by her children, 24 grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren,
Edward Rocca and his wife, Linda of Muscatine and their daughters Mary and Tina; Phil Rocca and his wife Shirley of Iowa City and their sons Andy, Gerry and Phil; Sister Mary Rocca CHM OF Iowa City; Mike Rocca and his wife Beryl of Rochester, Iowa and their daughters Michelle and Stephanie; Jim Rocca and his wife Mary Jo of Ellisville, Missouri and their sons Jon, Steve and Doug; Loretta Clark and her husband Jim of Iowa City and their children Margret, Angela, Bryan, Jeff and Joe.
Two daughter-in-laws, Trudy Rocca (Joe) of Rochester. Minnesota and their children David, Craig, Lisa, Darcy, Kevin and Denice; Ellen Rocca (John) of Lone Tree, Iowa and their children Dawn, Matt and Liz

She was preceded in death by her husband, one daughter, Josephine, two sons Joe and John , a great granddaughter, Mary Ellen and her brother Gus Pusateri.