Concetta Mary Bennicelli

Concetta Mary Bennicelli passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026 at the age of 102 with her daughters at her side. She was the daughter of Lucia and Giuseppe Caruso, and she was known by Tina (Concettina) by her mother and sisters, Connie by her coworkers, and Mary by family and friends.

Mary was born in New York on April 27, 1924, the middle of three sisters. The sisters were known lovingly as the three graces: Gina, Tina, and Evelina. Mary grew up in the Bronx, living in the apartment above her father’s shoe repair shop, where she enjoyed reading a book with her cat Butch in her lap as her father worked. Mary spoke only Sicilian when she started school, yet excelled and skipped two grades to graduate in 1940 from Theodore Roosevelt High School at the age of 16. Mary then earned a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in 1944. After graduation, Mary was employed as a chemist at Tidewater Oil Company and later as a microbiologist at the Brooklyn Naval Yard.

On January 8, 1955, Mary married Nino Bennicelli. In 1957, the couple with their first-born, Jeannette, followed Mary’s older sister Gina to Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Mary was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest child, Laura, entered first grade. She then returned to the workforce as a chemist in the Quality Control Laboratory at the pharmaceutical company Rorer, from which she retired in 1986.

Mary and Nino moved to Florida in 1986, where they enjoyed the beach life, explored the state, embarked on many bicycle rides, attended local theater performances, and walked the beaches and all of the local parks.

Mary was adventurous and eager to experience new things, whether it be white water rafting, learning the latest dance, or climbing ancient pyramids. She learned to ride horses at the Cimarron Dude Ranch in upstate New York. Mary travelled to Cuba, Mexico, and Canada as a single woman. She and her husband honeymooned in Cuba, where they enjoyed a night out with friends at the famed Tropicana night club. Throughout their marriage, Mary and Nino traveled extensively visiting Italy numerous times and exploring the United States, Portugal, France, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Jamaica.

Mary was an accomplished seamstress, and excelled at needlework, knitting, and dressmaking. She was an avid reader and particularly enjoyed historical novels and biographies. Mary’s daily activities included a morning walk or gardening and an evening snack of cookies and milk. Mary’s positive outlook, joie de vie, and adventurous spirit contributed to her longevity and made her a joy to be around.

Mary is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Nino Bennicelli and her sisters Louise “Gina” Toscano and Evelyn Burns. Mary is survived by her three children Jeannette Bennicelli, Michael Bennicelli, and Laura Bennicelli; her six grandchildren Lina Kuhn, Michael Bennicelli Jr., Anthony Bennicelli, Victor Bennicelli, Sylvia Bennicelli, and Dana Kilgarriff; and her great grandchildren Laila Kuhn, Emilia Kuhn, and Michael Bennicelli.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, September 30 at 3:00 p.m. at American House Senior Living, 1101 66th Street North, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to Suncoast Hospice, the Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church located at 3455 26th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, or to a charity of your choice.

Family and friends are also invited to blessing, prayers, and and interment of Mary's ashes at St. John Neumann Cemetery in Chalfont PA at a later date.