SCARBOROUGH- Marie K. Aresco, took the hand of the Lord peacefully on Friday, February 21, 2020 after a courageous two-year struggle with Congestive Heart Failure.
Marie was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York on January 8, 1931. She was the third child of Joseph and Angelina DiPalo Pecorella shortly after they had arrived from Baise Naples and Castellammare Sicily in Italy.
Marie's Brooklyn childhood taught her lifelong lessons she loved to talk about. The time her teacher called her parents because she could not learn to speak proper Italian in class. Or learning to play five and ten poker only to be told by her brother and his poker buddies they were not talking about nickels and dimes. Or the time that she headed out of the door to discover that all the hubcaps on her street were missing from the cars. Her one conversation with Papa Pecorella produced the return of shiny new polished hubcaps for everyone, within a day.
In 1950 she married her one and only Alfred Aresco. Together they built their beautiful family. After 25 years of marriage Marie's keen intelligence detected the need, to sail away on their 25th Anniversary Cruise, alone posing as a newly widowed woman. She always said that she had the time of her life, while Alfred had the grueling task back at home of packing and moving.
Upon her return life moved on. During this time, she loved to attend Belmont Racetrack. Her daughter Lynn, her son Joey and his friend Gary in tow. As Joey and Gary handicapped the races, Marie simply picked by name and numbers that she liked. She won every time while everyone else went home broke.
In 1978 Marie's path led her to meet one of her lifelong friends, James Calamis while joining a bowling league. Jim played for Allstate, while Marie played for Liberty Mutual. Through their 42 year friendship most memorable was Jim following Marie into the bowling alley bar to watch the NY Ranger's playoff games. Back in the days, cable tv was only broadcast in the bars, so off to the bar Marie would go! Jim would sit like an adoptive son making sure no bar brawls would break out as Marie was very intense and boisterous about her team. As Marie's son Joey and daughter Lynn appeared to watch the game as well, a deep lasting friendship began from that time forward. Still being a gentleman, Jim would always give Marie more handicap bowling points when competing with her team. Unfortunately for Jim, it was on those nights Marie would have a fantastic bowling score and Liberty Mutual would win. As time progressed Marie and Lynn got to share in many events in Jim's life as he welcomed his wonderful wife, Colleen, son Matthew and daughter Jamie. Many laughs and memories were shared at both of our homes on Long Island, New York, even extending a few more times with visits between NY and Maine which is where Marie and Lynn relocated to later in time.
Shortly thereafter in life, she endured the loss of her beloved son Joey in 1984. Life became very difficult, but Marie continued to move forward.
She was an avid New York Ranger's fan. After traveling hours by train, she would ride up the elevator with players, coaching them to perform better, "because it cost her time and money to get there"! They promised they would improve, as they knew that she would be there on the next elevator ride, at the next game.
She continued to work finishing her career at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. After 25 year's Marie decided to retire in 1999. She stated that there was no sense of sitting on her retirement money waiting to get old. She wanted to travel!
So travel they did. She and her daughter Lynn, aka, her best friend crossed over more than 30 states in the USA. San Francisco, Monterey and Pebble Beach, Grand & Bryce Canyon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, the total East Coast, just to mention a few. Marie's & Lynn's happy feet touched the grounds & cultures in Canada, Capri, Rome, Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii Italy, as well as many Caribbean Islands. Marie would say that this was her time. She was done with serving pasta, gravy, lasagna and cannolis to empty handed guests at every holiday.
With all of this under their belt, focusing more on home, they discovered that their beloved New York had changed. In 2007, Marie, her daughter Lynn and granddaughter Susie-Q, her beloved little Pitbull to protect them loaded up their life and car and continued their adventurous lifestyle. Their road trip brought them to Pine Point Beach, Scarborough Maine. They decided it was a good place to stop, as they loved the smell of the salt air and Scarborough Downs Racetrack was only a stone's throw away. Marie always said she could continue to place her bets on the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. At least she could keep winning she would say.
They made a life in Scarborough. As Susie-Q and Lynn walked on the beach daily, Marie was parked on her chair waiting. Here she made friends with the Summer People aka Rick and Vicky Swan and their dog. Diesel was their English Bulldog that just adored Marie and visa versa. Diesel would always be facing the entry path to the beach waiting for Marie to arrive with his daily treats. All three were the best of friends, enjoying life at the beach, as Marie would just love to gossip. However, amongst her newfound friends were many New England Patriot fans. Marie was an avid New York Giant fan. She would brag about her beloved Giants and it got tense sometimes as she won all the bets amongst these friends. She prided herself on the fact that even though she lived in Maine, a Brooklyn girl would not wear flannel!
As time and age progressed, she even laughed at the fact that she enjoyed daily daycare. It brought with it dear wonderful friends both in Saco and later Cape Elizabeth. Enjoying the company of Sharon Jenkins, Nicole Cottle and Sheila Nichols right up until her final move, when God called her home. Or as Marie always said, she was waiting for the final boot!
Marie is predeceased by her beloved son Joseph Aresco, her (Aresco) grandchildren, Lucky, Tanya, Sparky, Susie-Q and Lucy Lu Grace, her parents, her brother James Pecorella and a half-brother as she always said Andrew Pecorella, two sisters, Kitty Riggio, Dolly Ayers.
Marie is survived by her best friend in life, her daughter Lynn Aresco, her grandson Pippy Aresco, daughter Cindy Keegan and her family of Colorado, son Fred Aresco and his family of Oklahoma.
In her heart she took with her, her lifelong friends Mickey Ortalano of Delray Beach Florida and Donna Allen of San Bernadino California. Marie absolutely adored and would constantly say how she loved "her adopted daughter and son Robin Clough and James Smart" of Maine, even though they wore flannel, Marie would say. They spent the last few years driving Miss Daisy, aka Marie, around. Everyone would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to hear the conversations on those funny rides. Such an adventure my Mom would say.
Rest in peace Marie, forever our beautiful Mom.
DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE STATE WIDE BAN OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS, THE MASS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 21 HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE MASS WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED AND POSTED AT A LATER TIME WHEN PERMITTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION
Online condolence messages can be sent to the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service website, www.mainefuneral.com
Written condolence messages can be mailed Lynn Aresco, PO BOX 233, Limington, Maine 04049
Memorial contributions can be made to Center for Wildlife, 385 Mountain Road, Cape Neddick, Maine 03902
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com