Marie D. Pezze Lucas, 78, of 3139 Longlois Drive, died at 10:10 PM Monday, Nov. 3 2003, due to brain cancer. Born Feb. 1, 1925, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Rocco and Theresa Pezze; and had lived in Lafayette since 1948. She graduated from George Washington High School in 1943. She married Donald Edwin Lucas in 1946 in St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in New York City. He died in 1982.

Mrs. Lucas worked in personnel at Purdue University from 1968 until transfering to the department of biological sciences in 1970. In 1972, she became the secretary to the Dean of the School of Science and retired from that position in 1990. She had also worked at National Homes and L.S. Ayres. She volunteered with the Lafayette Adult Reading Academy (now the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy) and the Wabash Center. She enjoyed yard work, traveling and crocheting afghans. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Surviving are three daughters, Theresa (Mrs. Skip) Boas of Huntington, WV; Maria L. (Mrs. Jerry) Moore of New Carlisle, OH; and Edna (Mrs. Bill) Gammans of Lafayette; two sons, Donald A. Lucas (wife Elaine) of Lafayette; and Rocco B. Lucas; three sisters, Rosalie (Mrs. Joe) Bini of Port St. Lucie, FL; Anne Fiorillo of Boca Ratton, FL; and Josephine (Mrs. Arthur) Sabatini of Lakewood, NJ. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren, George Boas (wife Nancy), Tari (Mrs. Joe) Hendrickson, Danny Boas, Nicki Harrelson, Megan Moore, Michael Hicks (wife Jamie), Stacey (Mrs. Brad) Nangle, Rachael Bzra, Jennifer (Mrs. Ben) Thiel, Jamie (Mrs. Mark) Gelfo, Christopher Lucas, and Kristen Lucas; 12 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by a son, Christopher Lucas; a sister, Louisa Politi; and three brothers, Nick, Tony, and Danny Pezze. Services Nov. 8 in Hippensteel Chapel; internment St. Boniface Cemetery.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Wed 11/5/2003