Mary A. Bruno

Tampa, FL - Mary A Bruno, age 102, of Tampa, FL, formerly of Athol, MA, died peacefully on March 18, 2018. She was surrounded by her family. Mary was born on September 22, 1915 in Pietragalla, Italy. She came to America in 1929 with her parents, Alfonso and Teresinna (Settanni) Salusti, and her younger siblings, Joseph and Emily. Leaving New York City the family lived in Orange where her father and uncle established a tailor and cobbler shop. In the book ‘We the Resilient: Wisdom for America from Women Born Before Suffrage’, Mary recounted coming to the United States as a young teenager and finding it very difficult at that age to learn to speak English. In a testament to America’s public school system and in particular to the Orange teachers, she said, “The teachers in Orange would spend their break time working with me, my sister, and my brother, helping us to practice and learn. They were very encouraging.”. She remembered, even after some 95 years, the name of one of those long-ago teachers: “Miss Edwards helped me a lot and always advised me to…never give up. That advice stayed with me for my whole life.”. Mary moved to Athol after marrying her beloved husband Edmund Bruno, and lived in Town for some 70 years. She was active in a large number of civic organizations, among them the Catholic Womens’ League, the Daughters of Isabella, the Athol Blood Bank, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She asked to be remembered as having led a “very active fulfilled life”. She lived in Tampa with her family for the remaining fourteen years of her life. She concluded her interview in ‘We the Resilient’ with this: “My advice to young women is to always be yourself; be kind, and always try to be helpful to one another.”. She is survived by her son Edmund Bruno, her daughter in law Elizabeth Devlin, her grandchildren Gabriel and Clio, and many much beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband. She was a very special person who will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2017 at 11:00 am in Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol, MA. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St. in Gardner, MA. A calling hour will be held Wednesday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am in the Higgins O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mary’s name may be sent to Casaforchildren.org. To leave an online condolence, please visit www. Mackfmailyfh.com. Higgins O’Connor Funeral Home – A Mack Family Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol, MA is assisting with arrangements.