Mary E. Coleman, 93, formerly of the town of Clayton, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at Hospice of Jefferson County at the Ellis Farm.
Calling hours will be held at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 214 Sterling St., Watertown on Thursday, August 3rd from 4:00-7:00pm. A prayer service will be at the funeral home on Friday, August 4th at 9:15am followed by the funeral mass at 10:00am celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, Watertown , with Msgr. Aucoin and Father Gaffney presiding. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery .
Mrs. Coleman was born in Watertown on July 24, 1924, daughter of Carmen and Sadie Rizzo Cavallario. She was a graduate of Watertown High School . On August 18, 1946 she married her childhood sweetheart, Leo R. Coleman, at St. Anthony’s Church. Mr. Coleman died October 7, 2004. She was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church.
She had worked at Faichney’s Instrument Co. before her marriage and owned an adult home for many years in Watertown . Foremost, Mary was instrumental in the development of the recipes and daily food preparation for her son, Leo’s, numerous restaurants. She was responsible for training the kitchen staff until her retirement, many of whom are still employed, at the Fairground’s Inn and Coleman’s Corner, and all fondly refer to her as “Ma Coleman”.
Mary, loving matriarch of the Cavallario family, was known for her kindness, compassion, generosity, and devotion to her family and friends. No one ever left her home without enjoying a delicious meal with a to-go container of food in hand. Mary’s famous chicken soup comforted many friends and family over the years.
Mary was proud of her writing skills and kept a personal journal from age 13 to just recently. She also enjoyed meeting friends for weekly breakfasts in Chaumont, caring for her grandchildren in her country home, and entertaining large numbers of loved ones at family dinners. She was the ultimate caregiver.
Mary is survived by her three children: Diane M. Recupero and husband, Joseph S., Alexandria Bay; Leo R. Coleman, Jr. and fiancée, Stephanie Blevins, Clayton; and Christine L. Fields and husband, Jeffery D., Sackets Harbor; son-in-law, James J. Webb, Clayton; eight grandchildren: Leo R. III and Jamie Coleman; Joey Marie Horton and husband, Hunter; Taylor and Jenna Fields, and Jeffery Fields, Jr.; Casey and James Webb; two great-grandchildren, Greyson Horton and Isabelle Kathleen Webb; sister, Johanna Sboro, Watertown; two sisters-in-laws, Connie Cavallario, Alexandria Bay and Andriana Cavallario, Watertown; her brother’s Samuel’s lifelong companion, Myrna O’Neill, Ogdensburg; former daughter-in-law, Bobbi Bolton, Redwood; and lifetime best friends, Josephine and Frank Natali, Watertown; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Along with her husband, Leo R. Coleman Sr., Mary was predeceased by her daughter, Kathleen J. Webb, and seven brothers: Peter, Anthony, Vincent, Michael, Joseph, Samuel, and Frank Cavallario.
Donations in her honor may be made to Samaritan Keep 3rd Floor Activities Fund, 133 Pratt St., St. Patrick’s Church, 123 S. Massey St., or Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St., all in Watertown, NY 13601. Online condolences to her family may be made at www.cummingsfuneral.com.