Maria Licalsi, 79, of Hurley

Maria Licalsi, 79, of Circle Drive, Hurley, N.Y., passed peacefully, Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, at HealthAlliance Hospital, Broadway Campus.

Maria came to the United States at age 19 and worked as a seamstress until the birth of her children. She devoted herself to motherhood and loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking for the family (meatballs were her specialty). She enjoyed dinner and dancing with her husband and friends at Casa Milanese. She always had a sense of humor and continued to tease her family up until her last moments.

Maria was born in Aidone, Sicily, December 25, 1938. She was a daughter of the late Frank and Assunta (Rausa) Dimarco.

A loving wife and mother, Maria is survived by her husband, Benito R. Licalsi, with whom she recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. Her children, daughter, Tina Chocianowski (Anthony), of Hyde Park, N.Y., son, Edward Licalsi (Laura) of Saugerties, N.Y., daughter and sonin-law, Susie and Herman Niekamp of Kingston, N.Y., daughter and sonin-law, Frances and Timothy Kovacs, Kingston, N.Y., and by eight grandchildren, Jessica and Sam (Allison), Matt (Darian) and Evan, Kadie (Jordan) and Grace, Connor (Jocelyn) and Ben and by great -grandchildren, Lucas, Aria and Payton. She is survived by brothers John Dimarco (Rose), Benny Dimarco (Sue), and sister, Caterina Salito (late Robert).

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home Inc., 27 Smith Ave., Kingston, N.Y. (www.jvleahyfh.com). Friends will be received at the funeral home, Friday from 2to4and7to9p.m.A procession forms Saturday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Hurley Cemetery.