Mary Lettieri

Maria (Mary) Caputo Lettieri, 93, of Port Ewen, New York passed away peacefully at Ferncliff Nursing Home, Rhinebeck on the morning of September 6.

Mary was born on August 2, 1930 in Manhattan, New York to Domenick and Margherita (D’Alessio) Caputo.  Mary graduated from an all-girls high school in Manhattan.  After graduation and into her early years of marriage Mary was employed at New York Life in Manhattan in the typing pool, a fond memory that she often spoke of.  Mary left this position and became a full time homemaker and mother at the time of the birth of her first child.

In 1954 Mary married John Lettieri.  Mary met John several years earlier and carried on a courtship through airmail as John was stationed in the service serving in Japan.  John wrote to Mary and asked her if he should re-up for another tour of duty or come home to get married.  She wrote back and asked him to come home.

In her early years Mary attended The Cooper Square Church in Manhattan, where John and Mary held their wedding on May 1, 1954.  Shortly after she and John were married they moved to the Hudson Valley where they attended Beacon Assembly of God.  Here Mary served as a Sunday School teacher and church pianist.  As IBM moved them to Poughkeepsie, Kingston, and Charlotte, NC, they would engage with a new church, where Mary always played piano or organ.  Most recently, after retirement and returning to Kingston in 1991, Mary has been a member at Lomontville Assembly of God where she has served as both pianist and organist until a hip fracture made it necessary for her to enter a long term care facility.

Mary enjoyed reading, being with her family, and extended family, especially her sister Rose and her family, and her brothers Alfred and John and his family.    Mary had a love for dining out, enjoying many meals in restaurants local and beyond.

Mary faithfully supported John in their early years as he earned his Bachelors degree and later when he earned his Master’s Degree, each furthering his career at IBM.

Mary was mother to 4 boys two years apart and 10 years later, a daughter.  Countless loads of laundry, pans of lasagna, camping trips, picnics at Lake Taconic, family vacations to the Outer Banks and Lake Jocassee, and numerous trips to visit extended family, Mary served her family well and leaves behind a lasting legacy in her children and their families.

Surviving are her husband, John Lettieri; five children Dr. John T. Lettieri (Evelyn) of Greenville, SC, David O. Lettieri (Stephanie) of Ulster Park, Mark S. Lettieri (Linda) of Rifton, Paul A. Lettieri (Laura) of Poughkeepsie, and Cynthia Lettieri Vermilyea (James) of Rosendale; eleven grandchildren: John W. Lettieri (D’Ann G. Lettieri), Ruth Lettieri McElroy (J. Andrew McElroy), David J. Lettieri (Amanda), Matthew O. Lettieri, Jennifer R. Quiles (David), Mark D. Lettieri, Paul L. Lettieri (fiancé Alyssa Tompkins), Isabella M. Lettieri, Jonathan C. Vermilyea, Tyler J. Vermilyea, Kaylin A. Vermilyea;  thirteen great-grandchildren: Jack W. , Rose P. and, William O. Lettieri, Luke B. and Lily S. M. McElroy, Olivia C. Lettieri, Aurora and Amanita Quiles, Dominick and RaeLynne Lettieri, Myla and Wyatt Lettieri, John D. Vermilyea.

Mary is also survived by several sister’s in law and many nieces and nephews.

Mary is predeceased by her brothers Nicholas, Tony, Victor, Alfred and John, as well as her sister Rose.

Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401 where family and friends may visit on Saturday, September 16 2023 from 10am to 12pm with the funeral service taking place at 12pm. Interment will follow at the Ulster County Veterans Cemetery at New Paltz Rural Cemetery, New Paltz, New York. A tribute for Mary can be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com where you can find further information and leave a condolence for the family.

Mary’s family is especially grateful for the care she received at Thompson House in Rhinebeck during her more than two year stay, feeling that the staff went above and beyond to care for and understand Mary’s needs.  They are also thankful for the care she received at Ferncliff Nursing Home, also in Rhinebeck.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Mary’s honor be made to either People’s Place (https://www.peoplesplace.org/) or Walter Hoving Home (https://hovinghome.org/campuses/new-york-home). 

For the livestream of the service, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/KeyserCarrSimpsonHammerl