Vincenza Bucci

Bucci, Vincenza, 85, of Bethpage, passed away August 21, 2023. Reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband of 55 years, Thomas. The last three months without him were too much for her heart to bear. She will ever be the adored mother of Doreen DeAngelo (Christopher), Angela Mastino (Stephen), and Charles (Joanne) and cherished grandmother of Anthony, Julia, Matthew, Jonathan, and Francesca. She was the beloved older sister of Rose Fiori, whom she will get to hug again in heaven, and the “older sister” of  Angela Pinto Liang. Vinnie lived to do for others - cooking, food shopping, holiday gifts, personal cards for every occasion. If you mentioned in passing you liked something, it would show up for you. A baby on the way, a blanket was crocheted. Her grandkids never went without a want. Her son in law nicknamed her the Food Gestapo after the first night at dinner because of her obsessive need to cook for and feed everyone who walked in her door. Stop by for coffee and within minutes the table would be set with the good dishes, and covered with a minimum of half a dozen dessert options. Go for dinner and you would inevitably get some homemade pizza or focaccia or fried artichoke hearts or zucchini pie, or all of them, with the mandatory chicken cutlets. Use the same pan, oil, breadcrumbs and chicken and the grandkids turn up their nose - they just don’t taste the same without her touch. As much as she enjoyed cooking, she enjoyed eating. “I’ll try it” was her response when presented with something she didn’t make, even if  we knew full well she’d had it before and would devour it without a trace. “She is pretty good with a knife and a fork.” Dad used to say. She was also known as the QVC queen by her other son in law- she fell for every gadget, had them on speed dial and they knew her by her first name. “Hello, Vinnie! How many would you like?” the operator would say. We won’t be surprised if stuff shows up at home through the holidays this year. There was no better place to spend Christmas than at the Bucci’s. Vinnie kept the spirit of Christmas alive as well as the family traditions. The house would be festively decorated with home made items, and the bottom of the tree covered with wrapped presents for all who Vinnie knew. Homemade anisette cookies in Christmas tins. Hand crocheted blankets in soft pastel colors. And for the really lucky folks, a handmade ceramic keepsake. Vinnie seemed to have a sixth sense when someone needed a call to help lift their spirits. Frequent phone calls were the norm. It will take some time to stop reaching for the phone to call her with the latest news, or just to share personal sadness. Always a willing ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on. She made things feel ok, even if the world was caving in around you. Her smile was genuine and warm and it made you smile back. She prayed everyday for her family. Made Novenas every evening, did rosaries every night. But more importantly, she loved everyone. It was rare to ever hear her utter a bad word about  anybody. She would cook all day for her family, their friends, her neighbors or perfect strangers brought in to dinner. She donated to every charity related to sick children, even when she didn't have the money to spare herself. No one lived a more Catholic life than she. Which made it all the funnier that she loved to watch a good murder mystery or action movie (the higher the body count the better) more than a comedy or love story. Maybe that was because she lived her own. Vinnie was the prettier half of the world’s most enduring love story. Happily married to Tom for 55 years with hardly a cross word spoken between them ~ except for the memorable disagreement about Tony Bennett. Though by all rights never should have survived that first heart attack 20 years ago, she did and was able to be there for her grandchildren - the greatest joys of her life. They are the great kids that they are because of her influence and presence. And they will never forget her. Nor will anyone else who knew her. The family will receive visitors Thursday, August 24th, 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. 315 Conklin Street, Farmingdale. Funeral Mass Friday, August 25th, 10 am at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Interment following at St. Charles Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Vincenza's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; stjude.org.

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