Obituary of Benedetta A. Fiorillo

Benedetta A. Bessie Fiorillo, 83, of Racecourse St, Amsterdam passed away Christmas night, December 25th, 2005 at her home with her loving family at her side. We all knew she would not leave us until that special day like she promised us. She fought hard to stay with us. She was born in Amsterdam, New York on February 12, 1922 a daughter of Benedetto and Louise Ann Gravange Vassi. She was a lifelong resident of Amsterdam and was a graduate of the former Wilbur H. Lynch High School. Mrs. Fiorillo worked for a time as a Clerk at the Army Depot in Schenectady where she met her husband Eldorado ?Ted? Fiorillo. She was of the Roman Catholic Faith and was a communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. She always sacrificed for her children and family. Her family was her life. Everyone was treated like family when they walked through her door. She was a wonderful mother-in-law and always had the entire family over on Sundays to eat and share in a wonderful Italian tradition. Mrs. Fiorillo was a homemaker and the family seamstress. There wasn?t anything she could not fix. She was also the decorator of her home and was very creative. She married Eldorado ?Ted? Fiorillo on June 23, 1944; they were married for 61 years until he passed away earlier this year on June 21, 2005. She is survived by ten loving children who include six sons, Theodore Eldorado Fiorillo and his fiancé Susan of Amsterdam, Ralph Fiorillo and his wife Bernadette of Amsterdam, Gary Fiorillo and his wife Debbie of Amsterdam, Ronald Fiorillo and his wife Valerie of Amsterdam, Mark Fiorillo of Amsterdam, and Paul Fiorillo and his fiancé Sue of Amsterdam; four daughters, Darlene Febbie of Amsterdam, Anita Jobin and her husband David of Amsterdam, Tina Whelly and her husband Thomas of Amsterdam, and Sharon Fiorillo of Amsterdam; two dear brothers, Ben Nicosia and Charlie Vassi of Amsterdam; two dear sisters, Antoinette Orapello of Amsterdam and Josephine Hassfurter of Glen; seventeen cherished grandchildren, Nicola Netheway, Ralph Fiorillo, Jr., Andrea Fiorillo, Michael Febbie, Jr., Dean Febbie, Tory Febbie, Gary Fiorillo, Jr., Tammy Fiorillo, Ronald Fiorillo, Jr., Gina Benedetta Fiorillo, Dalila Lorensen, Marissa Jobin, Brittany Jobin, Tanya Whelly, April Whelly, Adrienne Whelly and Desiree Fiorillo; twelve great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. She was pre-deceased by: her loving granddaughter, Antoinette Fiorillo, on June 13, 2001; two brothers, Sam Nicosia and Frank Vassi and three sisters, Angie Destefano, Theresa Peconie and Nancy Fiorillo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 9:00AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, St. John Street, Amsterdam with the Rev. Lawrence J. Decker as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Amsterdam. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 from 5-8:00PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to a Special Fund in her memory to help benefit her daughter Sharon Fiorillo c/o the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, New York, 12010.