Mary Messina Cerami

Mary Messina Cerami died peacefully on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, surrounded by the love and care of family and so many good friends.

She was born in Palazzolo, Sicily on January 1, 1925, the daughter of Paolo and Guiseppina Giordano Messina. She came to the USA as a two-year-old and grew up on the lower eastside of Erie.

She graduated from East High School in 1943 and married Paul Cerami, her loving husband and friend in 1947. They lived and raised their family on East 4th Street. Together they cultivated a wonderful vegetable garden, the fruits of which nourished much of her extended family and close friends for many years. The harvest was turned into many wonderful and memorable dishes which were shared by many in "Mary's Kitchen."

Mary continued to plant and sow in her husband Paul's memory after he passed away in 1983.

She was later joined by close friend and companion, Bob Olson, who helped keep her garden flourishing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Joseph, Frank, and Albert Messina; and her dear sister, Connie Damore.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Marikae Cerami of Erie and Paul Cerami and Debbi Green of Berkeley, Calif. She treasured her beloved grandchildren, Kyle Cerami, Loren Cerami and her husband Jason Sickler, Ben Cerami, Sara Cerami, and her first great-grandchild, Emilia Avery Sickler, born February 14, 2012. Also cherishing her memory, her brother, John Messina of Atlanta, Ga.; and godson, Albert Messina and his wife, Janet; special friends, Bob Olson, Cindy Joyce, Chris and Steve Mullen, Brian Pardini, and Patty Baldwin.

We will all miss her but her strong spirit and loving presence will remain with us.

Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, Friday from 2-5 & 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend funeral services there Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Published in the Erie Times-News on February 23, 2012.