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Obituary For Mary Bocckino
Mary Brent Webber Bocckino passed away on August 15, 2023 at home, at the age 100, surrounded by loving family and devoted caregivers. She was born in Brooklyn, NY to Charles and Clare Swearingen Webber on May 14, 1923, and spent her early years there.
Her older sisters, wary of her Brooklyn friends, exiled her 300 miles away to Mount Aloysius Academy in Cresson, PA (she traveled there alone by train, never getting lost, but never losing her Brooklyn accent either). After she graduated from high school, she returned to New York, working for EH Barnes, a company in Manhattan that made wooden packing boxes.
Mary Brent met her husband-to-be Harry Bocckino on a train while going to visit her sister. He was a chemical engineer and Air Force B-17 pilot. After talking for miles, he gave her a math word problem. She answered correctly (would he have told her if she hadn’t?), and they were married a year later, on August 5, 1950, at St Bartholomew’s Church in Elmhurst, NY. They went on to have three children, and leave New York, first to the suburbs of New Jersey, and later to Colorado, Connecticut and Florida, relocating to Durham in 2012. Harry died in 2015.
Mary Brent was known for her smile, her unflagging cheerfulness, and her generosity. She was a deeply religious woman, and a faithful parishioner of Holy Infant Church in Durham.
Mary Brent was predeceased by her husband Harry, her daughters Anne and Mary, her sisters Clare, Charlotte, Christine and Eleanore, and her brothers Charles and Brent.
She is survived by her son Stephen (Pat), her grandchildren Owen Sutter and Lucy Sutter and a close-knit multitude of nieces, nephews and their families.
The family would like to thank her long-time friend and caregiver, Delcenia Lipscomb, the aides from Wisdom Senior Care, and Duke Hospice, especially her nurse Maria Gomez.
A memorial service is planned for a later date.
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Condolences & Tributes
Add A CondolenceCondolences to Stephen and family. Mary Brent was a classmate of Mom's (Rose Eger) at Mount Aloysius & her maid of honor in 1947, Cleveland Ohio. She was a faithful friend. For the years following Mom's stroke (unable to communicate), your Mom wrote regularly to her. For several years after Mom died (20+ years ago), your Mom sent Christmas cards to both my sister and myself. We attempted to write or phone your Mom. What a kind human being. She was proud of/loved greatly her family. We've just learned of Mary Brent's death. I'll add Mary Brent's name to our annual memorial Mass and enter it in our chapel's book of intentions. When we pray for her, we remember all of you. Peace.
Dear Owen, Lucy, Russ, Nancy, Steve, We have many happy memories of Harry and Mary Brent on Martha's Vineyard when the Sutter and McGraw children were wee ones in the early 90's. Mary Brent was a delightful, agreeable and easy going grandmother. Thanks for the memories! Love Merry, Don, Blair and Constance McGraw
Stephen and Pat thinking about you and the families.
Sandra Battle Former advocate with the Durham Committee
Stephen and Pat thinking about you and the families.
Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.
