Mary M. Labate Forte, 81, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Saturday , June 22, 2013 at Yale-New Haven Hospital surrounded by her children. She was the wife of the late Eugenio Forte. Mary was born in Portchester, New York on September 5, 1931; daughter of the late Antonio and Assunta Minetti Labate. Mary worked doing “piece work†for Electrolux of Greenwich and later worked for Pitney Bowes of Stamford until her retirement. She was a hard worker and “always passed the rate!†Mary moved to West Haven where she loved to play golf and was a member of the Women’s Senior Golf Club at the former Meadowbrook Golf Course and Sleeping Giant both in Hamden. She loved playing poker and black jack at the Foxwoods Casino with her friends Maida and Madeline but most of all she loved her family unconditionally, always cooking for everyone who was sick or in need. Beloved mother of Rose D. Mixon of North Haven, Salvatore and Mary DiSanto of Fleetwood, NY, Michael and Shari DiSanto of Narrowsburg, NY and the late Anthony DiSanto. Sister of Charles Labate of Ocala, FL, Joseph Labate of Greenwich, John and Cathy Labate of Trumbull and the late Vincent, Anthony and Frank Labate. Also survived by nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mary embraced life and now embraces the after.
Her funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, Thursday morning at 10:30. Family and friends may call from 8:30 to 10:30 am. A mass of Christian burial will follow in St. Therese Church, North Haven at 11:00. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Greenwich. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 45 Ash St., East Hartford, CT 06108.
Rose, Danielle, and Steph: Sending our heartfelt condolences to all of you as your mourn the passing of your mom/grandma. She was so sweet and loved you all very much. We are here if you need anything. We love you all.
Fred, Denise, Sarina and Marco
Mary Labate DiSanto Forte
Her name is bigger than she was, but what a powerful woman.
What I will remember most about her is her “call it like she sees it” attitude. I don’t think she realized just how hilarious she was.
Family was SO important to her. It was required that everyone come to her house for Easter; the meatless pasta dinner on Easter Saturday, and on Sunday morning the homemade cavatelli (pronounced “gahvahdeal”) on every flat surface in her kitchen in Stamford. The delectable Easter Bread, with the eggs baked inside for breakfast, and a huge ham dinner before we all had to head back home. The plastic eggs that she hid for the kids and grandkids with various amounts of money inside. Her traditions, that the grandchildren will never forget. She wasn’t an overtly religious woman, but Easter was “her” holiday.
She had her own names for the grandchildren: Jeannette became “Jenny”, Cristina “Tee”, Michelle “Missy”.
I remember how when she talked on the phone, she would stroke her bottom lip with the pinky finger of the hand holding the receiver, all the while interjecting “Right, right, right” into her caller’s monologue. It would almost seem that she wasn’t paying attention, but she never missed a word!
She had more than her share of deep pain, losing her second husband, Gus, and her son, Anthony. Mike and I were already divorced by then and I didn’t see her much after that, but I always admired her and, in a way, strove to be like her. Through her, I grew a backbone.
I met her after Gus had passed. She was dating Freddy, and he spent a lot of time with the family when we were all together. I’m not sure why they parted ways, but I do recall Mary saying she preferred being single because she could do what she wanted, when she wanted, and she could pass gas when she wanted! She was a firecracker!
The one thing she wanted from her children was to name a child after her mother, Assunta. None of them did. Maybe one of the great-grandchildren will…
She was so strong! She suffered with emphysema for DECADES, and I’m sure without the loving care of her daughter RoRo and her friend Toni she would have succumbed much sooner.
REST IN PEACE, Mary. Your earthly suffering is done.
So very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to the whole family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all
All my love for Gram Mary. From what Michelle told me when I first met her, that we truly could not date until you are accepted by the Grandparents. So when I first met Gram Mary, I was scared. But after the first 15 minutes I knew she accepted me and she knew that I was right for her granddaughter. I will miss you….
We didn’t know Mary well, b ut knew how much her family lived her. She was a special lady. R.I.P