Mary Tostanoski

Mary Ann Tostanoski October 28, 1919 - May 6, 2010 Mary Ann, age 90, loving Wife and Mother, died peacefully at home on May 6, 2010. On February 7, 1942 she was united in marriage to Edward Nicholas Tostanoski in Bradford, NY. She and Ed ?Skee? were an inseparable couple and celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2005. When he died on July 2nd, 2005, they were still in love. She was born in Blaine, Ohio, to the late Ignacy and Rosa Cielepala, and raised in the Finger Lake Region of upstate New York. Mary worked hard as a young girl on her parents? farm. Their farm had hand-pumped well water, a wood-burning stove, and no electricity. Daily chores included milking cows, gathering eggs, gardening and searching for mushrooms or berries. She attended a one-room school house as a child. Valuing education, she earned a diploma at Hammondsport High School, New York. She moved to the large city of Corning, New York and worked at the Woolworth lunch counter where she met and dated her future husband Ed. Soon after marrying, Ed enlisted in the Navy to defend our country. When he was wounded in the Battle of Okinawa and taken to San Francisco to recover, Mary and infant Ed Jr. came to San Francisco to reunite with him. They loved the people and the climate here and never left. Mary worked at the Greyhound bus terminal and met many of their core life-time friends, like the Wilsons, O?Briens, and Millers. She worked at Lick delicatessen, and later at Carlo?s Gourmet in the Golden Gateway Center. She earned her Real Estate License and was a successful part-time agent. Mary is survived by her sons, Ed Jr. and John ?Skee,? John?s wife Andrita; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one sister, Helen Loveland. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Ed, and her brother, John. Relatives and friends are welcome at Valente Marini Perata & Co. Funeral Home, 4840 Mission St., San Francisco, Wednesday May 12. Viewing will be from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm with the Rosary Vigil at 6 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 am, Thursday, May 13th, at Saint Brendan Church, 29 Rockaway Ave., Father Mike Quinn, will preside. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: USS Emmons Association, Memorial Fund in memory of Mary Ann Tostanoski, c/o Thomas Hoffman, treasurer, 3136 Northampton St., Bethlehem, PA 18020.

Mary Tostanoski

October 2, 1919 - May 6, 2010