Mario "Jim" Maccarone

100 years old, of Glenwood Avenue, Cranston, died on Sunday, March 5, 2017.   Mario “Jim” Maccarone was predeceased by his beloved wife Lucia Maccarone (Giuliani), who died in June of 2008.  They were married for 66 years and raised their four children in the Eden Park section of Cranston.  He was also predeceased by his sisters Esther (Alviti) and Anne Maccarone, and brother Dominick Maccarone.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on January 13, 1917, Mario was the son of Vincenzo Maccarone and Ernestine Maccarone.   Mario was the owner of the White Mountain Ice Cream Co., in Providence, where he manufactured high quality ice cream and frozen lemonade, and distributed it on his ice cream route throughout Mt. Pleasant, and North Providence for more than 65 years.  Mario’s oldest son, James, continues to operate the White Mountain Ice Cream Co.  He loved working in the White Mountain Ice Cream Co.—The Peak of Quality, which he established in 1945, and where he worked until he was 89 years old.  He cherished his ice cream customers as extended family members and knew them all by name.  He would often finish his long days of work, accompanied by his sons who worked their ice cream routes in Smithfield and Greenville, and remark how wonderful his customers were.

Mario was a proud and decorated veteran of World War Two, having fought in the Ardennes Forest—Battle of the Bulge, for which he received three Bronze Stars for action in Germany, France and Belgium.  He also received medals for good conduct, meritorious service, and he was honorably discharged in 1945.  Mario believed in God, country, and family.

Mario is survived by his devoted children, James Maccarone and his wife Judith of Cranston, Ronald Maccarone and his wife Alene of Danville, California, Robert Maccarone and his wife Denise D’Ambrosio of White Plains, New York, and Mary Lou Clark and her husband David of So. Windsor, Connecticut, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Wednesday at 9 :00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in the Church of St. Mark, 9 Garden Court, Cranston.  Burial, with military honors, will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS are on Tuesday from 4:00-8:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of RI, 1085 No. Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.