Occhialini, Mary Ida (Reney)
Mary Ida Reney Occhialini, 99, of Newington, passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late Antonio Occhialini. Born in 1922, in New Britain, CT, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Firmina (Fattorini) Reney. In 1941, Mary graduated from New Britain High School. She was employed at the electrical counter of W. T. Grant Company and then as an inspector at Fafnir Bearing Company. From there, she went on to the Aetna Life and Casualty Company, where she was trained to be a comptometer operator. Mary met her future husband, Tony, when she arranged for her friend to go on a blind date with him. However, Tony had his eye on Mary, and they were soon married. She
became the lynchpin of the family by devoting herself to her husband and raising 5 children, enabling Tony and her brother, Albert, to build the Reno Machine Company together. Mary was well-known for her fabulous pasta sauce which was served for many years at 2:00 every Sunday afternoon. She also cooked for hundreds of small and large parties and charity fundraisers over the years. She was the quintessential matriarch who celebrated all of the strong, independent women in her family and had a soft spot for all of the men. As her children grew older, Mary began to pursue painting. Many of her lovely paintings adorn the walls of her family members’ homes. She also crocheted dozens of beautiful afghans. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards, reading, making puzzles and visiting the casino. Far from the typical Italian grandmother, Mary was a night owl who had a sarcastic wit, an amazing sense of humor, was sharp as a tack and didn't miss a trick. She loved family gatherings and was always ready for a party or an adventure. She loved to travel and was looking forward to her next Girl’s Cruise with her daughters and daughters-in-law. Mary is survived by her children: Adorna Carroll, Mark Occhialini and his wife Cinzia, Renée Malinowski and her husband Thomas, Sonya Casarotto and her husband Jeffrey, David Occhialini and his wife Jeana, and her niece Maria Teresa “Terri” Conti and her wife Cynthia. She also leaves her grandchildren: Jenna Carroll Abare and her husband Norman, Adam Malinowski and his wife Jennifer, Eric Malinowski and his wife Mallory, Jordan
Carroll Gangloff and her husband Scott, Antonio Occhialini and his wife Ashley, Sean Carroll and his wife Christina, Danielle Occhialini and her partner Gregory Diaz, Diva Malinowski Green and her husband Benjamin, Brianna Occhialini and her fiancé Mitchel Graziano, Alexander Casarotto, Athena Casarotto, Austin Occhialini, Michela Casarotto, Braden Occhialini, Cameron Casarotto and Daniel Casarotto. Mary was blessed to have 11 great-grandchildren: Zachary Abare, Natalie, Andrew, Luke and Vivienne Malinowski, Hazel Malinowski, Mark and Declan Occhialini, Emmett and
Parker Gangloff, and Jameson Diaz. Mary also leaves her godchildren: Christina Rondina Sideranko, Aldo Zovich and Sandro Quercia. Additionally, Mary is survived by her sister-in-law Maureen Reney, several nieces and nephews, here and in Italy, and many treasured friends. In addition to her husband and her parents, Mary was predeceased by her beloved brother Albert Reney, her daughter-in-law, Pamela Cowles Occhialini and her son-in-law, John Carroll. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial for Mary at 11:30 AM at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Newington. The burial will be held privately at a later date. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Monday, December 13th,
from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, at the Duksa Family Funeral Homes at Newington Memorial, 20 Bonair Avenue, Newington. By the request of the family, masks are to be worn to calling hours and to the church. Memorial donations may be made to the Newington Department of Human Services, Newington Town Hall, 131 Cedar Street, Newington, CT 06111 or to the Newington Historical Society & Trust, Inc., 679 Willard Avenue, Newington, CT 06111. To share a memory with her family, please visit us at www.duksa.net.