Obituary of Viola M. Tessiero

Viola M. Tessiero 91, of Amsterdam, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility. Viola was born on April 14, 1915 in St. Johnsville, New York. She was the daughter of the late Stephen and Emma Ponzillo Ferrucci. She attended schools in St. Johnsville and was a communicant of St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church. Throughout her lifetime, she and her husband owned and operated the Holiday House in Scotia, the Guy Park Deli and the Artesian Flower Shop on Guy Park Avenue in Amsterdam. She was also employed at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital and at the Tower Inn in Cranesville. She was a loving mother and grandmother who loved to cook and bake for her family and enjoyed having them around her. Her husband, Bartolo ?Barney? Tessiero predeceased her on Feb. 12, 1973. She is survived by five daughters; Barbara Saita, Elaine Donald DeVito all of Amsterdam; Anita Cariati of Clinton, Conn., Donna Patrick Szurek, Patricia Robert Arthurs and one son Bart Deborah Tessiero all of Amsterdam. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, Sindi and Fred Saita, Donald, Dean and Deborah DeVito, Erica Maher, Elain Drauss, William and Donald Cariati, Patrick and Justin Szurek, Tricia Hinkle, Robert Arthurs, Jason, Amber and Kyle Tessiero; thirteen great grandchildren; Michaela and Anthony DeVito, Jason, Ashley and Christian DeVito; JT and Taylor Maher, Michael and Devon Dzicek, Ashley, Ciera and Nicholas Cariati, Lauyrn Tessiero and nieces, nephews and cousins. Her siblings, Sam and Angelo Ferrucci, John and Ralph Ferro and Louise Genaro all predeceased her. Services are Monday at 10:00 am at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, followed by the Mass Of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St. Mary?s Roman Catholic Church, 156 East main Street. Burial is in St. Michael?s Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday from 3-6 pm at the funeral home.