Obituary of Mary Libretti

Mary ‘Mitzie’ Libretti, a long-time resident of Madison, NJ and Naples, FL, passed away Wednesday, November 1, 2023, surrounded by her seven daughters and her beloved husband of more than 63 years, Gerry Gennaro. She will be missed beyond measure.

She is remembered for her pure love of family and togetherness. Friends were considered family, and Mary raised and fed an entire village. Her delicious, homemade meals were served with a side of her uncommon wisdom and wit. She is remembered for that remarkable spirit and generous heart most of all.

Mary was born July 13, 1940 in Pittston, Pennsylvania. She was a graduate of Archbishop Walsh High School in Irvington, NJ and later furthered her education at Seton Hall University. She enjoyed a brief career as a dental assistant until she married the love of her life (“selected by God, Himself’ as she liked to say) and began her life-long work as a devoted wife and mother.

Mary raised nine successful children and made it seem effortless. Gerry was amazed and so proud of the family she created with him—and how she lovingly nurtured the individual needs and personalities of so many children. She led by example, naturally instilling in her children a strong moral compass, solid work-ethic, and respect and compassion for others. Her deep faith in God always guided her and she shared that with her children. She had an amazing capacity for love and knew that her work as a mother was the most important job in the world. She dedicated her life to her family and those she loved. She always stood up for what was right, was a steadfast friend, and gave all of herself, expecting nothing in return. 

Gerry was her world and she, his. Every night, he was amazed when he returned from work to a quiet, meticulously clean and organized home, with the delicious scents of dinner cooking—and his wife, gliding toward him with scotch on the rocks in hand and looking more beautiful than any movie star. She loved to golf with him, dance with him, dine out with him (even though it did not compare to her cooking), and entertain family and friends in their beautifully designed homes. Whatever they did, wherever they traveled, they did it together. Always together. Their relationship set the standard for her children to follow. 

Everyone naturally gravitated toward Mary. So many life-long friends of her children claimed her as their ‘second mom’. She loved life, her husband, and her children like no other.

Mary is survived by her adoring husband, Gerry Gennaro; her seven cherished daughters: Anna Clark, Maria Duffy, Gina Glancy, Lisa Montgomery, Andrea Libretti, Donna Cooke, and Nina Petitt, her sixteen treasured grandchildren: Adam, Nathan, and Rachel Clark, Gerry and Gabrielle Libretti, Jake and Conor Glancy, Kelsey Gosselin, Zachary and Carter Montgomery, Jade and Jaclyn DiDonato, Lily-Max and Carina Cooke, and Haley and Addison Petitt; and her four precious great-grandchildren: Palmer and Macy Montgomery, Noah Hester, and Rowan Glancy. Mary is also survived by her sister Rita Hand and brother-in-law Edward Hand, her step-sister Teri Bianco and brother-in-law Pat Bianco, her sister-in-law Karen Gulbicki and her daughter-in-law Ann Libretti.

Mary was predeceased by her sons Michael and Doug Libretti; her son-in-law Bruce Montgomery; her brothers William and Donald Gulbicki and her step-brother Louis Alise Jr. She is cooking for all of them up there, with Michael and Doug as her sous-chefs, Donald pouring (hefty) classes of red wine, and Louis setting the table and queuing up all of their favorite John Denver songs. Heaven is a million times brighter with her added presence.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend her visitation on Saturday, November 4^th, 2023 from 8:30 m-10:00am at Fuller Funeral Home, 1625 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at St. William Catholic Church, 601 Seagate Drive and repast at Imperial Golf Country Club.

A Celebration of Life Mass will also be held on Saturday, December 2^nd, 2023 at 10:00am at St. Vincent Martyr Church, Madison, New Jersey with repast to follow service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested charitable contributions in memory of Mary Libretti to be made to St. Vincent Martyr School, Madison, NJ; https://www.svmsnj.org/site/