Mary Teresa Leary

1927 - 2022

COOPERSTOWN – Mary Teresa Leary, 94, resident of Monroe County, was taken by the Lord on Sunday, August 28, 2022, in Rochester. 

Mary was born on December 31, 1927, in Niagara Falls to Joseph David and Agnes Gertrude Maher. 

Mary graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a nursing degree and worked as a nurse. She married Dr. Herbert J. Leary in Lyons Falls in 1952, and after a series of moves, eventually settled in Poughkeepsie to raise one daughter and four sons. Later the couple moved to Cooperstown after building a home on Otsego Lake. Following her husband’s passing in 2007, Mary came to reside at The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in Cooperstown, a place she truly enjoyed and appreciated. 

Mary was a long-time member of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown and active in charity work, especially the American Cancer Society, Fenimore Art Museum, Farmers’ Museum, Women’s Club, Senior Bridge Group and the Cooperstown Food Pantry. 

Mary is missed by her daughter, Ellen M. Leary Coccoma and son-in-law Michael Coccoma, along with their children Nicholas, Caitrin (and her son Evan) and Peter; her son John P. Leary and daughter-in-law Pat, along with their children Jeffrey, Emily and Kristine; her son Brian J. Leary and daughter-in-law, Raquel, along with their daughters Meghan (and her son Leo), Bridget (and her daughters Ellia and Cassia) and Bernadette; her son James P. Leary and daughter-in-law, Jane, along with their children Jacqueline and Michael; her son, Dennis M. Leary and daughter-in-law, Kelly, along with their children, Ryan and Nicole; and her sister, Catherine A. Maher, as well as her beloved nieces and nephews and many friends. 

In addition to her husband, Mary was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Agnes Maher and her sister, Elizabeth Virgil. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. Michael Cambi, pastor officiating. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Richfield Springs. 

Contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. If you would like to send condolences to the family or send flowers in memory of the deceased, please use the information below.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown. 


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Ralph DiDomenico

May 28, 1944 – August 8, 2022

MARYLAND – Ralph (Ralphie, Ralphie Boy), a resident of Maryland, NY, was born on May 28, 1944, to the late Rose Scarpone DiDomenico and Boniface DiDomenico in Manhattan. He was an only child and soared into his Father’s arms on August 8, 2022. 

Ralph was a 1962 graduate of Sewanhaka High School. His education included a bachelor’s degree from Nyack College 1989-91 in Organizational Management; OASAS Certified Training Program, 1996-99 CASAC, Addictions Treatment and Prevention; Lincoln Hospital, 1999 ADS (Acupuncture Detoxifications Specialist); Rutgers University 2000 Summer School of Alcohol and Drug Studies, Addiction Treatment; 2007 Gambling Specialty. He was a retired member of the Orange County Cultural Equity Taskforce, retired member of the Orange County SPOA committee and recipient of the 6th Annual JMHCA (Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Act) Distinguished Service Award. 

Beyond all scopes of education, he was an expert on eating food. Food specialties include Italian cuisine such as the dried meat selection, Italian bakery items, actually, let's be honest here, ALL bakery items. He was also fluent in Chinese food. If it wasn’t meant to be sweet, then it better be spicy!

Ralph is survived and proud of the four daughters he had with his first wife, Carol-Margaret Stevens (Anthony), Marie McDowell (Todd), Angelina Fodera (Adam), and Rachael DiDomenico (Richard Crews). 

Seven years ago, Ralph was fortunate to reunite with his high school sweetheart, a partner in crime, and is survived by his wife Adele Morse-DiDomenico. After Adele and Ralph married, he became the proud father to Adele’s daughters Cora Morse Pappas, (Andrew), and Jesse Morse Judd, (Michael). 

He is survived by grandchildren, Tatiana and Andrew Cunningham, Javani, A.J., Ashine, and Carolann Stevens, Katelynn (Glenn) McDowell-Goudreau and Sarajane McDowell, Noah and Hunter Fodera, Richard Jr. and Calvin Crews, Sophia and Nicole Pappas, and Tia, Kayla, Walter, Michael, and Samantha Judd. 

Great Grandchildren include: Elias Rosado Cunningham, Anastasia, and Esmerelda Cunningham, and Annabelle and Wyatt Bruyn-McDowell. Soon to come: Rhea Stevens. 

Ralph is survived by cousins Mary Scarpone-Breen and her two daughters Hillary and Amanda, Lois (John) Cicardo and two sons Michael and Jason and Mary Marando and daughter Lynn.

He was loved and will be missed by his fur babies Gracie and Cali.

Ralph was a member of Fusion Community Church in Cobleskill. He was a soldier of God and a life learner of God’s word. He had helped many through their difficult times. What many didn’t know is when Ralph was teaching others it was then that he was also a student. He was truly a pillar to the church and his community.

Psalm 100: 4,5 
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
 
In lieu of flowers, we ask you to please pay it forward in honor of our dad. Purchase the meal, dessert, or coffee of a stranger the next time you are out and tell them you are doing this in honor of a man who had the love and passion for good food then ask them to pay it forward the next time they go out. Putting a smile on someone's face is also placing one in their heart.  

Please join us in a Celebration of Life for Ralph DiDomenico:

1 p.m., Saturday, September 17, 2022
Fusion Community Church
375 N. Grand Street, Cobleskill, NY 12043
(518) 823-4365



If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.