Mary Schiavo

Mary Grace Schiavo, 101, of Southwest Philadelphia, died peacefully on Oct. 8, 2025, having lived a full and happy life, rich with family and friends, food and music, love and laughter. Born in South Philadelphia, she lived for more than 60 years in Southwest Philly, where she and her husband, Joseph, raised four children and saw their family tree grow to 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren — all of them crowding into their tiny house on 64th Street every Christmas Eve for the traditional and very noisy seven fishes dinner. Most recently, Mary was living at the Aston home of her daughter and caregiver Marie-Elena Rizzo. Known by many names — Mommy, Mama Luce, Missy, Aunt Mary, Sister Mary and Mare — Mary was love personified. She created magic in her cramped kitchen, which smelled better than any place on earth, filled with the heavenly scents of chicken soup, pasta fazool, anise biscotti, and her famous Sunday gravy with macaroni and fried meatballs. No one could duplicate her recipe because the secret ingredient was a pinch of Mama Luce’s love. Mary was born on Oct. 4, 1924, to Concetta (Martino), who taught her how to sew and crochet, and Gennaro Santangelo, who instructed her in the recipes of his native Foggia, Italy. A child of the Great Depression, Mary was hospitalized several times from sicknesses that killed many children in those days: diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, pneumonia. But she had a very happy childhood, thanks to the generosity of the philanthropists who subsidized childcare for families like the Santangelos, enabling both parents to work. Till her dying day, Mary’s fondest memories were of times spent at the Willing Day Nursery at Fifth and Pine streets, with her brother, Alphonso (nicknamed Funzie), and sister, Jean. She would never forget her teachers there, and the nursery’s annual trip at Stone Harbor instilled in Mary a lifelong love of the Jersey Shore. A talented and creative person, Mary had a drawing displayed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art when she was a junior high student. And she returned to painting after her children were grown. At 16, Mary dropped out of South Philly High to work alongside her mother in a garment factory. She met Joe shortly before he was drafted into the Army and shipped overseas to Europe during World War II. They were married in 1948 in a double wedding with Jeanie and her husband, Tony Ochipinti, at St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi church. The following year, Mary and Jeanie were both expecting, and so was their mother, Concetta, who gave birth to their sister, Geraldine. Mary devoted her life to her husband, children and grandchildren, being a constant and caring presence in their lives. She kept her house on 64th Street spic and span and always had cake and coffee on hand for company. Mary and Joe were married just shy of 76 years when Joe died in 2024. They were still living on 64th Street and remarkably sharp and agile on their 100th birthdays, though they paid no mind to diet or exercise throughout their lives. Together, they were magnetic, drawing so many into their circle. When Joe died, Mary lost her north star and longed to be reunited with him. Along with Joe, Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sister Jean. She is survived by her sister Gerri Pilcher; her children: Layna Rizzo and husband Billy; Joe and wife Mary; Christine; and Mark and wife Kerri; grandchildren: Michael Glaze and wife Christa; Jackie Daly and husband Paul; Matthew Rizzo and wife Katie; Gina Rizzo; Joe Schiavo and wife Katie Cramer; Kate Corcoran and partner Gabriel Yassky; Claire Corcoran and fiancé Ryan Brown; Jordan Schiavo and wife Maddie; Luke Schiavo and fiancée Hilary Williamson; and Allison Schiavo. Nine great-grandchildren: Michael, Christina and Melissa Glaze; Alyssa, Paul and Samantha Daly; Rocco, Vincent and Stella Rizzo; and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at St. Pius X Church, 220 S. Lawrence Road, Broomall, PA 19008. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon. Those looking to honor Mary may make a donation to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, 4500 Cooper Road, Suite 204, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242; or to Holisticare Hospice, 985 Old Eagle School Road, Suite 504, Wayne, PA, 19087. You also may honor Mary by listening to swing music, dancing a jitterbug or sharing a noisy macaroni dinner with your family.

Mary Schiavo

October 4, 1924 - October 8, 2025