Mary Altieri

Mary Florence (Ciampi) Altieri passed away peacefully on January 25, 2012, at her home.

She was born May 2, 1919, in Mount Vernon, New York, to Saverio and Margherita Ciampi. She worked as a telephone operator in the Westchester Division, New York Telephone Girls in the Second Service Command of the Army Service Forces during World War II. On September 28, 1947, she married the love of her live, Michael Sylvestro Altieri.

Mary took great pride in raising their two children, Michael Jr. and Michele. In their later years, Mary and her husband, Michael, enjoyed retirement life filled with golf, tennis, cards, ping-pong, and dancing at Jefferson Village Community in Yorktown Heights, New York.

At age 90, after her husband's passing, Mary relocated from New York to Kansas to be near her grandchildren, moving to Garden Villas of Lenexa.

She found a family of friends and an abundance of activities in that caring, lovely community. Some of her favorite activities were poker, exercise class, and art class, but those were secondary to her being an ambassador for visitors, and "walking the halls", greeting anyone who happened to be available for a chat.

We are sure that Mary has earned many rewards in heaven, but there is no doubt that that she has been lovingly given the award for "Most Words Uttered in a Lifetime" for Mary loved to greet everyone with warmth and a story to make one feel loved.

Mary was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be terribly missed by her daughter, Michele Beni (and husband Vincent) of University Park Florida; son Michael Altieri Jr, (and wife Jan) of Prairie Village, Kansas; grandchildren: Matthew Altieri of St. Charles, Missouri, Martin Altieri (wife Katrena and their daughter Morgan) of Kansas City, Kansas, Daniel Altieri (and Madison Gallardo) of Prairie Village, Kansas, Kristin Tschannen of Brooklyn, New York, and Bruno and Beth Tschannen and their daughter, Layla of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mary was a role model for enjoying life and aging joyously. Those who were blessed to meet her found their lives enriched. In a love letter from Michael, while he was stationed overseas during WW II, he wrote to Mary: "One thing I'm sorry about up here, is that you are not here" a line written in 1942 that we are sure he felt for the last 9 years since his journey to heaven before her. Now they can be at peace and together forever.

Contributions may be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Court, Cary, NC 27513 or online at www.jimmyv.org . Please list Mary Altieri as Honoree and Michele Beni as Notification Recipient.