Mary N. (DeCarlo) Loffredo

Mary N. (DeCarlo) Loffredo passed peacefully into the grace of the Heavenly Father on January 10, 2014, surrounded by her adoring family. She was born on March 27, 1919, to Rocco and Angelina DeCarlo. Mary was a life-long resident of Des Moines, living for her first 12 years on the northside. Thereafter, her parents built a home on the southside where she would reside for the rest of her life.

After attending St. John, Park Avenue, and Lincoln High schools, she fell in love and on November 10, 1940, married the love of her life and best friend, Michael J. Loffredo. Together they, along with Mary’s father, opened a small grocery store on the corner of Rocco’s property. They soon began to grow the family business, which served as a workplace for them and their three children for over 30 years.

She was a charter member of Christ the King Church, Altar and Rosary Society, past president of the Stemma Di Italia Auxiliary, on the Board for the Italian American Cultural Center, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Mary was a great cook of Italian cuisine and baked wonderful bread, pizza, cake, and pie. She loved to dance, especially the Tarantella. She took pleasure working in her beautiful flower garden, and took great pride in her embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and needlepoint. Mary was a tough competitor at the card table, where she enjoyed many different games.

Mary was one-of-a-kind and we are grateful for the examples she set for us. She will be missed and remembered with love by her children, MaryAnn Ward, Michael J. Loffredo II, and Judith Elliott, as well as her grandchildren Steve Ward II, Lisa Martin (Todd), Adam M. Elliott, and Sara Loffredo and three great grandchildren Nick, Jack and Quinn Martin.

Mary was preceded in death by an infant brother, Nicholas DeCarlo; father, Rocco DeCarlo; mother, Angelina (Marcilio) DeCarlo; and husband, Michael J. Loffredo.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at Christ the King Church on Wednesday, January 15, at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will follow.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Christ the King Church Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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