Mary R. Tricarico, a resident of Amityville for more than 20 years, died on May 11, 2005. She was 78 years old and was described by her family as a nurturing woman with a tremendous capacity for warmth and affection.

Born in Brooklyn on March 14, 1927, Mrs. Tricarico moved to Massapequa. She moved to Amityville shortly after the death of her husband in the early 80s. According to her daughter Valerie, Mrs. Tricarico enjoyed the beach in her later years because the water and the boats brought back fond memories of her husband, Frank, who was a big fisherman.

Mrs. Tricarico, a homemaker and care giver, did not drive but one of her priorities was in finding a way to go to church. Her family says she loved to read, listen to music, and her son Lawrence calls her a "wonderful cook." One thing, more than anything else, sums up her personality, however, said her children: her friendly and loving approach toward everyone.

"She had been living with me and we always supported each other," her daughter Valerie said, "it’s one of the great things that she was not just a mother, but also like a friend."

Mrs. Tricarico’s son Lawrence said, "The most important thing for her was always her family but she was such a caring person with everyone she met."

The extent of Mrs. Tricarico’s kindness can be seen in the bond she formed with a girl named Shayne. Mrs. Tricarico’s daughter-in-law, Carla, introduced them when Shayne was less than a year old. Shayne’s mother, a co-worker of Carla’s, needed someone to watch her daughter while she was at her job. Mrs. Tricarico started babysitting Shayne and she played a large part in her life as she grew up. According to family members, this relationship led Mrs. Tricarico to look at Shayne as almost an adopted grandchild. The two remained very close, right through Shayne’s high school years.

According to her daughter Gail, this is just one of many ways that Mrs. Tricarico showed the kind of person she was.

"She was very successful in her own way," Gail says, "and my brother, my sisters and I all feel very proud to follow in her footsteps."

Mrs. Tricarico is survived by her son Lawrence and his wife Carla of Stonybrook; daughter Gail Siderine and her husband Ron of Sherrill; and daughters Valerie of Amityville and Carol of Deer Park. She also leaves behind her brother Henry Ferrante of Amityville; her grandchildren: Michael, Jaimie, Melissa, Chris, Jason, Frank and Shayne; as well as her great-grandchildren: Ethan, Angelina and Kayla. Mrs. Tricarico was predeceased by her husband Frank.

Mrs. Tricarico reposed at D’Andrea Brothers Funeral Home, 99 Oak Street, Copiague. A funeral mass was held at St. Martin of Tours RC Church on May 16, 2005 followed by interment in Calverton National Cemetery.