Maria (Russomanno) Sestito

Maria (Russomanno) Sestito passed away peacefully at home on September 8, 2024, at the age of 87, after a long illness.

Maria was born on March 24, 1937, in Cardinale, Calabria, Italy. In 1956, she, her parents, and siblings emigrated to the United States, settling in the Little Italy section of Troy, NY. She would return to Italy several times during her courtship with Joseph Sestito, who was serving in the Italian Air Force, and it was there that they wed in 1959. But their life together was built in Troy – raising four children and becoming an integral part of a close-knit community.
As a child, Maria learned to embroider and sew from the nuns in her village. In Troy she became a seamstress at Tiny Town Togs, and later for Rodino’s menswear shop, all work she found to be very rewarding. Yet her greatest pleasure was seeing family and friends gathered at her table, enjoying her food and hospitality – she was always the last to take a seat at the table and the first to jump up whenever anyone needed anything. Her home was the heart of the entire
family and neighborhood – and all were welcome. Her life was simple yet rich – her great pride
in her children, her love of cooking and gardening, her tireless care for anyone who needed it.
Maria was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Joseph, her parents Giovanni and
Maria Annunziata (Cerillo) Russomanno, her brothers Nick and Bruno, and sister Elizabeth
(Cutulle). Maria is survived by her four children, Tony, John, Mario, Mimi (Holloway) their
spouses, and her sister Antoinette LoPorto, six grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, in-
laws, and cousins.
Family and friends are invited and may call on Thursday, September 12, from 4 to 7 pm at the
Wm. Leahy Funeral home, Troy. Funeral procession will begin at 8:30 am on Friday from the
funeral home to St. Joseph’s Church, Troy, where a 9:00am Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Troy.

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