Marie C. Scarfi's Obituary
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE DELIVER ALL ARRANGEMENTS BY 3PM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 TO OUR LEWES LOCATION.
All are invited to participate via live-streaming of the services by visiting the following link on Saturday November 7th at 3:00PM: https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1098039
MARIE C. SCARFI, Artist and Teacher
Marie C. Scarfi, age 88 of Lewes, DE, passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning, October 16, 2020, with her loving wife and partner of 33 years, Rosanne Faust, at her side. She is loved and missed by her devoted family, and by friends from every phase of her life, including some with whom she had been close since early childhood.
An accomplished artist, Marie earned her B.A. degree from Hunter College and her M.S. degree from Queen’s College in New York City. Her watercolors and monotype prints were exhibited in numerous juried shows and invitationals at galleries including The Rehoboth Art League, The Carnegie Institute of Fine Arts in Pittsburgh, The Huntington Township Art League in N.Y. and the Westhampton and East Hampton Chambers of Commerce Art Shows in New York. Her paintings are in public and private collections in the United States, Great Britain, France, and Sweden. In 1995, Marie was honored and delighted to represent the state of Delaware in the Kennedy Center’s Very Special Arts Exhibition in Washington, D.C., with her work submitted by the Rehoboth Art League curator.
Marie and her sister Nora Mazzara were raised in Manhattan by their parents, Christine and Paul Scarfi. The sisters both were educated at Our Lady of Pompeii School in Manhattan. After high school, Marie went on to college and became a resident of the Clara De Hirsch residence for young women, which offered affordable room and board to many young European Jewish refugees as well as to a small number of students, like Marie, from New York educational institutions. The diverse roster of friends she made there had a significant influence on her, introducing her heart and mind to women with backgrounds and cultures unlike her own. Many of these women became part of a circle of lifelong friends. During her college years, Marie supported herself in part with the skills she was developing as an artist, painting decorative lamp bases and murals on mirrors in restaurants. With some convincing, she also agreed to sing at times with a band that played in the Catskills. She was especially proud of having been a member of the Interracial Fellowship Chorus of New York City and of performing with
the group at Carnegie Hall.
Marie worked as a teacher in New York schools for 30 years. She was devoted to her students, attentive to their unique personalities and individual needs as well as their education. When a former student sought her out to say thank you, she and Marie then corresponded regularly for the past 10 years. Her deep interest in people and culture also was fulfilled on memorable travel through much of Europe and to Russia on trips sponsored by the teachers’ union.
Upon retiring, Marie moved to Lewes with Rosanne. In a house they built on Red Mill Pond, Marie continued her studies, this time focusing on the lives of the birds and animals she observed there. Anyone who visited Rosanne and Marie would find her never far from their panoramic view of the pond and its inhabitants. She also was an avid golfer and played on the women’s team at the former Sussex Pines for a number of years.
Marie continued to make art, turning to soapstone sculpture as well as painting and prints. Her sister Nora Mazzara, with whom she spoke every day, is also an artist, who resides in Mountain View, Califomia. Marie and Rosanne’s home is a showcase for Marie’s artwork and for many of Nora’s exquisite sculptures and ceramics.
In addition to her wife Rosanne Faust, and her sister Nora, Marie is survived by Rosanne’s daughter Carolyn Faust; her brother-in-law, Anthony Mazzara; her nephews and nieces: Victor Mazzara, Christine Mazzara Cleveland, Laura Lane, Valerie Snook, Paul Mazzara, and their significant others; and many grand nieces and nephews. Her constant companion and beloved dog, Savannah, misses her daily.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 3:00 PM, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE, where friends may visit beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow the services at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing protocols must be observed, and masks must be worn by everyone participating in any aspect of the services.
All are invited to participate via live-streaming of the services by visiting the following link on Saturday November 7th at 3:00PM: https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1098039
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Marie’s memory to the Delaware SPCA, 22918 Dupont Highway, Georgetown, DE, or www.delspca.org.
Please sign the online guestbook located on the tribute page and please read the following tributes that family members sent:
Tribute to Marie Scarfi by Valarie Snook
I am Valerie, Daughter to Nora, and one of the Nieces of our amazing Aunt Marie.
Our Aunt Marie was loved and we are truly going to miss her. She was the type of person that made everyone feel special, loved and important.
Even though my Aunt Marie lived across the country, we enjoyed many colorful conversations on the phone, covering so many topics from growing up with her sister (my mom), living in NY, her teaching years, our family, my children, her love for art, her love for her wife Rosanne, the labor pains of growing old and so much more!!
They were filled with laughter, and even when she was being serious, we would end the conversation on a light note and always wanting to call again.
Everyone probably shares the same thought about Aunt Marie’s laugh, it was infectious!
I enjoyed listening to her memories of her life. She had a way of bringing you with her on the journey of the story; she was such a visual storyteller.
There are so many great memories to reflect on, smile about, and even chuckle out loud when I think of some our conversations. I treasure the phone calls the most - it was my private time with my Aunt Marie, all mine, and we could talk about anything and not feel rushed or interrupted.
I can still hear her saying:
“now listen I have something important to say” (as she was laughing),
“Oh stop it! I’m being serious, stop laughing!"
We would stop and have a serious conversations. I don’t think it was a mistake that we were laughing during some serious conversations - it was her way of getting through to me.
It was the perfect recipe of emotions and I loved listening to her share her wisdom and her stories.
When we lived on the East coast, in Florida, I have many fond memories of our time with her visiting our house in Indiatlantic and the many Thanksgivings spent in South Florida. Whenever I would see Aunt Marie she was always so nurturing and at times would end up taking care of me.
One time, we went into a house that was under construction. I ended up having a bit of a panic attack with the maze of all the plastic around. Even though I was a grown adult, my Auntie noticed I was having a moment and went into action, she grabbed my hand and knew to get me out of that house. It was a "save the day" moment! Once we were out of the maze and “safe" we were able to laugh and laugh about my silly fear.
I was pregnant with Levi and I wasn’t feeling very well during Thanksgiving in Northern California. She came and sat with me and cared for me just like a “mama Auntie" would do. There was never any doubt the love she felt for her family. She truly loved and cared for all of the nieces and nephews AND grand nieces and nephews!!!
We often saw Aunt Marie in either Florida or California, but since we had not made it to her home in Delaware, we decided to go for a visit!
I am so happy we made that decision to visit Delaware and to finally see their beautiful home. My Aunt Marie and Rosanne were so welcoming to my family. We sat and talked and spent the day enjoying each other’s company. There is nothing better than physically getting to hold someone’s hand and give them hugs and kisses.
I thought then that it might be the last time I was going to physically see Aunt Marie. I was hoping to travel back this upcoming year, but 2020 had other plans. Spending time that trip with Aunt Marie and Rosanne is a moment I will always treasure. I thank God every day that we decided to make the trip, to see them at their beautiful home on Red Mill Pond.
All three of my children had a great relationship with my Aunt Marie growing up. Just about a month ago she was asking me about my oldest adult son, her grandnephew, Michael. She wanted me to be sure that I send her love his direction and to tell him she was thinking of him! He was so touched by her special words. Thank you for being his Great Aunt.
My daughter Michaela, her grandniece, shared a special bond with her Auntie, she really felt a deep connection. I believe they both felt it. Michaela was able to have deep conversations with Aunt Marie and she would make her feel so special and loved. It is such a gift being 88 and so “hip”. My Aunt Marie could totally relate to an 18 year old so easily. During our Delaware visit, my Aunt sat holding Michaela’s hand and looking straight into her eyes; talking to her and listening to her. Although there were others in the room my Aunt made her feel like they were alone. Michaela treasurers their conversations and is also following in her Aunt’s footsteps, hoping to graduate with her Masters in teaching. I’m sure she hopes to touch and mold as many lives as our Aunt did.
Levi my youngest just loved visiting her home in Delaware, and enjoyed spending time laughing and talking in the beautiful backyard. He loved her jokes and sometimes would try to figure out if she was being serious or kidding.
When not engaged in deep, loving conversation, Levi picked up sticks, gum ball seed pods, and pinecones among other things in the backyard. It was so kind of my Aunt Marie and Rosanne to notice he didn’t want to part with his newly found “treasure" so they placed the items in a shoebox and mailed the items back to California!! What a surprise to return from the East Coast and receive the box!! He was quite impressed that he had such great Aunties! These simple but profound thoughtful moments will be the special things they remember about our Aunt.
Marie Scarfi, having so many great accomplishments and living a full life in the time she spent here on Earth, made an incredible difference in the lives of her friends and family. We will carry her love for all of us in our hearts forever. We love you with all of our hearts,
Aunt Marie you will truly be missed!
Love, Valerie, Robert, Michael, Michaela and Levi
Tribute for Marie Scarfi, Laura Lane
Aunt Marie has been a constant, gentle and loving presence throughout my life. She was a great listener always interested in learning about my life, inquiring and digesting every detail of my responses. She would put her hand over the top of mine - as if attempting to really hold onto my attention- and look me directly in my eyes to ensure I was digesting the importance of the advice she was about to share with me.
At an early age, Aunt Marie recognized my sensitivities in herself; I distinctly remember her emphatically telling me that one cannot be too sensitive and not to let anyone ever tell me otherwise! A favorite childhood memory (there were many in child and adulthood) was spending the weekend at Aunt Marie’s and picking blueberries in her backyard to make blueberry pancakes for breakfast for and my siblings. I remember her New York home as very orderly in contrast to our home of seven, also decorated beautifully with much of her own artwork.
Even when we moved from New York to Florida, Aunt Marie took the time to visit us. She was up to date with each of our lives as she and Mom connected frequently, often daily. One of my favorite memories as an adult was visiting Aunt Marie and Rosanne in Delaware. They made me feel like my visit was very special with cleared calendars, menus and outings preplanned. I was intent on “buying” a piece of Aunt Marie’s art for my own home and she took pleasure in taking me on a tour of their home decorated with many of her paintings and sculptures, telling me stories about each of them. She humbly shared an unfinished painting in her studio and gave me a special viewing of many pieces of art stored in the attic. While I am fortunate to have a few of Aunt Marie’s paintings in my home, the one I cherish the most was from that particular visit prominently displayed in my living room for over a decade. On a later visit accompanied by my brother, Paul, Aunt Marie and Rosanne took us to antique shop in Lewes where she purchased compasses for each Paul and me an interesting gift to which I reflect back on the relevance.
Throughout adulthood, most of our interactions have been by phone and during my early morning walks. She was surprised I couldn’t just call from a sitting position at home. As typical, Aunt Marie would put the focus of conversation on my life asking about my son and Mom; her deep love and caring for Mom was present in every conversation.
Ant or Ont - proper pronunciation for Aunt – we had many silly discussions over her title. Aunt Marie said it's Aunt pronounced “Ont”, definitely not an “Ant”. I will forever remember my Auntie Marie fondly for the love and interest given freely and consistently over all the years and sense of humor even through her own life and health challenges.
I also want to thank dear Rosanne for her ongoing love, commitment and special care for our Auntie Marie and caring and love for our family. She gave Aunt Marie the happiest years of her life and the most precious gift of her unconditional love. What a blessing she is to our family!
Tribute Marie Scarfi, Paul Mazzara
One of the many Blessings of a large Family is how we celebrate our shared Love and Support of each other. Aunt Marie and Rosanne are very special to us all. Rosanne’s beautiful tribute to Marie reminds and informs us of her fulfilled passions for Music, the Visual Arts, Education & Close friends in DE and Us many miles away,
We are inspired by her 88 years of courage, determination and accomplishments. She blessed us with astonishing returns. We have been the recipients of her love and tender guidance, gentle though quick to correct.
She embodied NY Toughness with an all knowing of the best in us or work in progress. She developed a keen awareness of the difference. Our Aunt Marie is forever an advocate for us to be our better selves. I’m sure her wealth of knowledge lives on in her students and hopefully in all of us!
I fondly remember her legacy to have a positive influence. Her loving spirit however, would not hesitate to denounce a wrong. Her stoic though petite frame summoned a roar of bravado to autocorrect, protect and defend an innocent from an antagonist.
One look at her stern face would likely arrest whatever the situation. Surely, her students could attest to that! I must add however, in a competitive match of scrabble or perhaps cards she knew no Family or Friend.
Aunt Marie’s sharpness of wit, wealth of Wisdom, Love, Warmth, Tenderness and Compassion will be treasured. Each in our own way, we celebrate our unique relationship with Aunt Marie.
We know, to love and cherish maybe elusive over time. Especially in sickness and in health, Rosanne conquered all. A tireless dynamo at home and at work.
Rosanne’s loving care, as sole provider, added to the quality of years at home to Aunt Marie’s life. She has fulfilled with grace and lovingness what we wish to imagine for a loved one. Rosanne will forever be a gift to us all.
Aunt Marie once said, I’m her Rock! I laughed and said in protest, “No way I don’t believe it”. In my usual tease I said, “Let’s ask Rosanne who’s the Rock!” Her Sister, Nora or MOM to me, would likely agree. Rosanne is amazing in every way.
Mom would banter with both Rosanne and Marie. The sisters would talk daily, speaker phone left nothing to be imagined. Aunt Marie was her guardian from a very young age. My mom looked up to her sister with the reverence and love of a mother whose love was enduring, and unconditional. We celebrate their relationship as Mom to Marie was her darling. To Rosanne and Marie’s very special circle of dear friends and neighbors we thank you for kindness, friendship and generosity of spirit toward Rosanne and Marie. You will be an enduring blessing!
We have shared many pictures and memories of our beloved Aunt Marie these last few weeks. A gift for us to rally our thoughts and recount our relationship cherished in our hearts. The collection of her art in our homes reflects an intimate and immediate sense of herself. We celebrate her extraordinary talent.
Her every painting speaks sensitivity, unpredictability and her knowing of the fragility of life. Her work reminds us how with courage and sheer determination we are to face life. I should mention, there is one other piece among others. It appears I have one of the few paintings of a portrait Retitled Paolo with her consent.
A collection of her unsaid thoughts, the poignant detail of facial features is evident. Simply Brilliant. When asked, she would never say explicitly her interpretation of a finished piece, however inquisitive as to our interpretation. One other painting comes to mind, without a title I recall, I counted faces and always came up short. Aunt Marie, in her coy and usually playful wit refused to find them for me. An Artist at work in my mind and heart.
We celebrate her Love of Rosanne, her Sister Nora and Family. A remarkable journey of Education, 30 years of Teaching our Youth, forever nurturing our better selves. Her Legacy of Art, Voice, Love and Friendship is a Legacy that’s surrounds us all. What a life, what a love in our Aunt Marie.
XO Paul
Eulogy Tribute to Marie Scarfi
Nora Mazzara
My sister Marie
Brave
Unforgettable
Vigilant
Loving & Caring
"No coward soul is mine
No trembler in the world’s
Storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven’s glories shine,
And faith shines equal,
Arming me from fear.”
Marie and I were raised in a small apartment in Chelsea in NYC.
Our mother worked full time in the garment industry as a forelady.
We took trains from nursery school to college.
Dogs were part of our childhood to be walked and fed and taken to the vet.
Marie entered one dog in a parks recreation contest and won a ribbon!
Later she talked our parents into the same dog that Mr. and Mrs. North had in the movies
ASTA!!!
Our wire haired fox terrier, Brewster, however, when left alone in an apartment, literally tore up encyclopedias and ripped skirts off slip covers on both the wing chair and club chair and chewed through the-rungs of our kitchen chairs causing a guest’s chair to collapse!
Fearing our mother’s warning that this dog must go, I was sent out to buy additional sewing machine needles as they broke going through layers of fabric!
Marie learned how to operate our mother’s sewing machine to reattach the pleated skirt to chair!
Marie being 6 1/2 years older talked me out of my birthday money one year, to buy “Carmen for children”. Hence, my introduction to opera!
Every Saturday 10AM the radio was tuned to Metropolitan opera program!
Marie and I harmonized songs learned in our grade school at our Lady of Pompeii before we went to sleep!
In high school, Marie was in a production of the Barber of Seville.
She, having to lip sync played the recordings numerous times, so we both absorbed the arias!
It’s still one of my favorite operas!
Marie had an operatic voice singing other arias and Ave Maria!
We had great summers crabbing at times with our grandfather in Staten Island, rowing in Central Park, visiting museums, dancing in the LR of our apartment when our parents were out in the evening!
Marie, having attended Hunter College, advised me to take entrance exams to Hunter HS, since tuitions were high for other private Schools.
Marie left after graduation to live independently!
She taught me how to make enameled jewelry when she visited the apartment to spend time with me!
I’ll leave this with you.
When she took a job singing one summer, she taught me the Latin beat: what to sing when striking two sticks:
Shave and a haircut, Two Bits!
Try it when you hear a good rumba or cha cha cha!
And think lovingly of my amazing sister Marie.
I shall miss our daily phone calls!
Tribute To Our Aunt Marie Scarfi, Christina Cleveland
As nieces and nephews of Aunt Marie, we all have incredibly distinct different memories of our Aunt but we all share the ownership of a warm loving spot in our hearts for Aunt Marie. She has been a supportive loving force in our lives for as long as we have been on this earth.
Aunt Marie would come and visit us regularly when we lived in St. James. Our Aunt was a school teacher but she never had children of her own. Our mom was generous; she had 5 children and was more than willing to share! There was nothing more fun than an adventure to Aunt Marie’s home in Smithtown. She had A lovely...perfectly decorated ...childfree....clean home! There was big beautiful backyard built into the side of a hill where we could run around half dressed, pick and eat fresh blueberries while enjoying the sun. Aunt Marie would tell us stories of mom dropping us off as babies without enough diapers and she would have to use dish cloths on us until Mom came back to get us. As you can imagine it was a little stressful for us to visit her home but she survived. With her teacher background Aunt Marie was very strict. It was something we distinctly remember as young children. As we grew older we started to appreciate the finer qualities of Aunt Marie. She was artistic with a lovely fun side as well as intense, direct and passionate personality.
She could sing and boy did she have great rhythm when she danced. I used to marvel at how she could make her body move in directions that my body wasn’t capable of doing. She was intelligent and she possessed a smile, laughter and an intensity about her that was more powerful than most people in my family had developed. When Aunt Marie felt strongly about something she felt it through to her bones!! It was something to behold when Aunt Marie was coming to visit us in Florida. It was usually a holiday filled with food, family, penny poker and Intense adult conversations. There’s nothing that would make my father happier than to goad my aunt into a debate on a topic she was passionate about. He gleefully wouldn’t stop debating until he got my aunt to the point of unrestrained insane frustration. As a child I remember countless thanksgivings filled with the joys of Aunt Marie, penny poker and family squabbles. Somehow as we moved into adulthood Aunt Marie managed to keep in touch with each of us and continue to develop deep friendships with each one of us as we evolved in our lives. She always had time to talk and she was always willing to give gentle guidance and encouragement.
Everything about Aunt Marie will be greatly missed including her deep passionate love for the Democratic Party. I know she is smiling at the fact that she got her last vote in for her beloved party before she departed.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention that one of the largest blessings in Aunt Marie’s life has been her deep loving relationship with her partner, true love and spouse Rosanne Faust.
Rosanne has been in a loving relationship with Aunt Marie for well over 30 years. It is truly a gift from God to find someone in this life that you deeply love that also deeply loves you. That kind of love is a rare gift indeed.
We thank Rosanne for making our Aunt’s life wonderful and for being by her side through all of good times and well as the incredibly difficult times. Your unconditional love has set a high bar for us all.
We all love her very much and look forward to being with her again.
We sure love Our Aunt Marie
Our family is sure going to miss our Aunt Marie. Always supportive, alway a kind word, unconditional love, friends to all, Conscientious of others' feelings, amazing Artist, amazing sister to our mom, Retired school teacher! So funny she even graded my letters I sent her and returned them with red pen corrections all over the place and yet always took the time for positive reinforcement. She always ensured she took the time to tell you how much she loves us and points out what needs to be appreciated. No telling how many lives she had a positive influence on.
As a kid there was so many celebratory family gatherings, All the holidays when ever possible, food, family, what an amazing environment to grow up in. Lots of spirited debate! My Dad and Aunt Marie sure had some good ones. I think mom had to referee some of them. The list of memories is long,a lifetime of memories for me. We love you Aunt Marie and you’ll be missed dearly.
What’s your fondest memory of Marie?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marie?
Share a story where Marie's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marie you’ll never forget.
How did Marie make you smile?