Mary (Delgrande) Slaiby

OBITUARY FOR MARY IRENE SLAIBY 

Loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. 

Mary Irene Slaiby, passed away on September 7, 2024. She was born to the late Emilio and Giovanna Delgrande on June 3, 1926 in Poughkeepsie, New York, and resided in Torrington for most of her life. She is survived by her son, Samuel E. Slaiby (Sam) and his wife Alice-Jane (Curtis); her 4 grandchildren: Thomas A. Slaiby (Monica Bonvicini) of Torrington; Alicia M. Tirloni (Richard) of Naugatuck; Dr. Aaron M. Slaiby (Colleen Morris) of Danbury and Andrew J. Slaiby (Rachel Shurick) of Avon; and 7 great-grandchildren;, Sophia Tirloni ; Samuel, Edward, Michael, Emily, Eden, and Emilio Slaiby, who all knew her as "Nonna"; and several nephews and nieces. She is, and will always be, missed by them all. Mary was predeceased by her loving and loved husband of almost 37 of years, Mayer J. Slaiby; her brother, Joseph Delgrande; her step-father, Anthony Matracia; and half siblings, John, Carmine, and Flora Calabro . 

Mary, as did many others who grew up in Torrington during the Great Depression of the  1930's, suffered the poverty and degradation typically experienced in that era by immigrant families.  The Great Depression was followed by the loss and sacrifices brought upon by World War II.  Circumstances forced Mary to quit high school at age 16 and go to work full time. Mary worked for  the Excelsior Needle Co., Division of the Torrington Company for 37 years, until it was sold off in 1980. Mary was a solid and proud member of the UAW and served for several years as a shop  steward. Mary was admired by her peers as a vocal and effective advocate for her sister and brother workers. Mary was a life long Democrat (known on rare occasion to split her vote), and never missed voting in every election in which she was eligible and capable of voting.  Mary was a devote parishioner of the Church of St. Maron, Torrington, personally bringing  her grandchildren to religious education classes every Sunday, and was herself a religious education instructor at St. Maron Church for several years. She was also a member of the church choir.  Mary had a passion for travel. She and her late husband, Mayer (a professional truck driver,  who enjoyed nothing more than driving somewhere in his off-time) traveled to many places  throughout the United States and Canada during his lifetime. In the years following Mayer's early  death, Mary became an avid world traveler enjoying many foreign adventures ranging from riding  motors-scouters in Italy to participating in a high tea in Ireland to enjoying a luau in Oahu, to rafting in New Zealand. One of her most enjoyable adventures was being a chaperone for members of THS Italian Club on one of their trips to Mary's favorite country, Italy. She loved music especially opera, classical, and any thing by Frank Sinatra and his fellow interpreters of the Great American Songbook. She was an ardent fan of the Hartford Whalers, New York Yankees, and both the UCONN basketball teams but especially the women. She was also a TV soap opera addict. The greatest of Mary's passions was her love of family. She treasured the Sunday dinners, holidays, and vacations spent with them. The annual summer week in Maine with the entire four generations of her immediate family was the highlight of her year. Along with her immediate family, she treasured the deeply warm relationship engendered with the family of her beloved daughter-law, Jane (Curtis), who not only included her in many holiday and family events, but in every way treated her as an integral part of their family; she in turn loved and celebrated them as her own. 

Mary's family would like to thank the staffs of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and Litchfield Woods Health Care Center for their consideration and professional care of Mary during the last stages of her life. 

Calling hours will be at Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Avenue, Torrington CT, 06790 on Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 5:00-7:00PM.. A funeral Mass will be held at at St. Maron Church, 613 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790 on Friday September 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers. contributions may be made to St. Maron Church or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, P.O. Box.97372, Washington D.C. 20090-7372. 

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