Mary F. (Matteo) Pezza

of Johnston, mother, grandmother, loved by all, passed away on September 3rd, 2025. She was the wife of the late Lawrence Pezza Sr. Born in Manhattan, New York City on February 26, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Alfredo and Theresa (Martino) Matteo. She moved to Johnston at 19 years old where she became a lifelong resident.

Mary began her life in Rhode Island, working in Olneyville assembling glasses for the Air Force. Mary and her husband Lawrence owned Pezza’s Market where she worked for over 35 years before retiring. Later she went on to work in the Providence School Department, where she loved being a lunch lady to the children.

Mary is survived by her sons Lawrence Jr. and his wife Lorna and Michael and his wife Mary. She was a loving grandmother to April Pezza and Jimmy Lyons, Lawrence Pezza III, Maria Pezza and Alex Herron, Michaela Pezza, Mattea Pezza and Daniel Degenhardt and great-grandmother to Wesley Herron. She is the loving sister of Theresa Allocca and the late Samuel, Alfred, William, Anthony and Thomas Matteo. She was also an aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Mary was a loving person who always placed her family as the priority in life, and someone who always made room at the table for everyone who showed up at her home. She was loved by many and will always be remembered in our hearts, especially with her beautiful and loving smile.

Her funeral will be held on Thursday, September 11th at 11 a.m. from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Rocco Church, Johnston at 12 noon. Burial will be at St. Ann Cemetery Cranston. Visiting hours are Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

At her request and in lieu flowers, she would appreciate any remembrance be made in the form of a donation to St Rocco’s School, 927 Atwood Ave., Johnston, RI 02919 or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, RI, 1State St. – Suite 501, Providence, RI 02908.