Mary Palmer Cioccolanti

January 24, 1923 -- October 17, 2020

Mary Palmer Cioccolanti, a lifelong resident of Brewster, NY died peacefully at her home with her husband, Joseph Cioccolanti, by her side on Saturday October 17th, 2020. She was 97 years old.

Mary was born January 24, 1923, in Brewster, daughter of the late Edward and Sarah (Canny) Palmer. She was a 1941 graduate of Brewster High School, and a 1945 graduate of New Paltz State Teachers College. After teaching in the Carmel and White Plains School Districts for a brief period, Mary moved out to California and taught in Redwood City. Mary and Joe married in Menlo Park, California in June of 1952. They remained out West while Joe finished a degree at the American Institute of Foreign Trade after which they returned to Brewster.

Mary was a devoted teacher at the Garden Street School for 25 years and took exceptional interest in her students. She particularly enjoyed running the school plays, as well as organizing the annual trip to the historic (and unheated) Southeast Church where she made sure all the children had wrapped hot potatoes in their pockets so they could keep their hands warm as children did in the past.

Mary enjoyed traveling and sailing with her family and spending summers on Block Island. Mary was also passionate about her charities and supported many children’s programs and schools in the United States and around the world.

Mary was an amazing wife and mother. She is not only survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Joe, but also her children, Mark Cioccolanti of Windhoek, Namibia, Africa, David Cioccolanti of Wilmington, N.C., Andrea Cioccolanti of Newton, MA., and Noel Campbell of Patterson, N.Y., 7 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild. She was predeceased by her brothers Robert, Henry, Edward, and John, and granddaughter Hailey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield, CT on November 14, 2020 at 11am. Internment of her ashes will immediately follow at St. Lawrence O’Toole Cemetery, Brewster, NY.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Mary’s name to the Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, 57770, or online at www.redcloudschool.org.

Beecher Funeral Home, 1 Putnam Avenue, Brewster, NY is assisting the family with arrangements.

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