Mrs. Mary Irene (Ronsivalli) Furnari, a lifelong resident of Andover and beloved wife of the late Fred J. Furnari, passed away at the High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill on Tuesday afternoon, July 24, 2018. She was 84 years old.
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on January 9, 1934, she was the beloved daughter of the late Vincenzo and Grace (Arena) Ronsivalli. Mrs. Furnari was an Eucharistic Minister, member of the Ladies Schola and Parish Choir, and active communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Andover and served on the Parish Advisory Council there. Mary was a graduate of Lawrence High School, Class of 51; McIntosh Business School, Lawrence; Felt/Tarraut Business School, Boston; Boston University School of Financial Planning, Boston. She had been employed by Stop & Shop offices, Boston; Tyer Rubber, Andover, where she met her beloved husband, Fred J. Furnari; and Abbey Bridal, Andover. She was a past member of the West Elementary School Advisory Board, Parent/Teachers Organization, and Board of Directors of the Widowed Persons Service.
In her spare time Mary enjoyed cooking and baking, especially foods of her Italian heritage. She loved opera, classical music, and singing as well as needlepoint and sewing, making many clothes for her family. She also loved to travel, especially to Florence, Italy, coastal Maine and Cape Cod. Above all, she was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. She will be dearly missed by many.
Mary is survived by her loving children: Fred S. Furnari of Andover and his partner Stephen D. Barrus of Jamaica Plain, Maria G. Furnari of Andover and Nina E. and her husband William J. Wolfendale of Andover; devoted sister Antoinette Ronsivalli and dear friend Janice P. Clevesy of Haverhill; cherished grandchildren: Matthew J. Hoffman of Brattleboro, Vermont, Timothy S. Hoffman of Lawrence, Rebecca G. Hoffman of Andover and William J. Wolfendale, Jr. and Katherine M. Wolfendale, both of Andover; cherished great-granddaughter Madison G. Hoffman, and many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Louis, Nicholas and Santo Ronsivalli.
Visiting hours will be at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 198 Haggetts Pond Road in Andover, on Friday, July 27 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, beginning with the reception of Mary's body at 4PM. All are invited to participate in the Rite of Reception. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Robert Bellarmine on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at 11 AM. Internment will be held in the West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover.
Donations in Mary's memory may be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice at www.homehealthfoundation.org, or the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 or at www.lbda.org. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.