Mary Orofino

AUBURN | Mary A. Spagnola Orofino, 95, of Auburn, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, Oct. 2, 2018, at Finger Lakes Center for Living.

She was born in Auburn, the daughter of the late Antonio and Lucia Pappalardo Spagnola and had been a life resident. Mary graduated from Binghamton School of Nursing and also Syracuse University. Mary would work for more than 40 years in nursing and spent the last 25 of them in administration for the Cayuga County Health Department. She excelled and won several National Spelling Bee competitions. Mary was one of the kindest, gentlest, and supportive person that you would ever meet. She was always there to lend an ear. She would become an advocate for “widowed friends,” a group to console one another after the loss of their spouse. Mary was also an excellent baker with her specialties being her famous lemon meringue pie and of course don’t forget the banana cream pie.

She is survived by her three loving children, daughter, Mary (Brian) Berry, of California; sons, Michael (Luanne) Orofino, and Alexander (Dawn) Orofino Jr., all of Auburn; six grandchildren, Dustin, Brandon (Angie), Nichole, John, Brianna, and Erin; two great-grandchildren, Mia and Micah; three step-grandchildren, Aiden, Liam, and John DeCann; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her husband, Alexander in 2014; grandson, Mark Orofino; daughter-in-law, Patricia Orofino; sister, Rose Lopiccolo; five brothers, Christopher, Ernest, and Frederick Spagnola, Matthew and William Spain.

A celebration of both Mary and Alexander’s lives will be celebrated next Memorial Day weekend at a time and location that will be announced.

Contributions may be made in her memory to Finger Lakes Center, c/o Activities/ Music, Interlaken Unit, 20 Park Ave., Auburn, NY 13021.

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