Maria Lucia (Santosuosso) Yanelli, 81, of Hawthorne Street, passed away the evening of August 17, 2016 at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born on November 9, 1934 in Faeto, Foggia in the Puglia region of Italy, she was the daughter of Pasqualino and Vittorina (Buccassi) Santosuosso. She married Anthony “Jake” Yanelli on February 1, 1969. Her husband preceded her in death on June 17, 1997.

Maria emigrated to the United States in 1955 as a foreign exchange student and graduated from Ursuline High School in Youngstown, OH in 1957. She graduated from Youngstown State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She then worked as an elementary school teacher in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, OH until 1968 at Saint Anthony Elementary and Our Lady of Perpetual Help where she served as the principal.

Maria was also a substitute teacher in the New Castle Area School District and the Neshannock Area School District as well as a substitute teacher at St. Vitus School. She worked as the parish secretary at St. Vitus Parish in New Castle under Monsignor Joseph Fabbri.

Maria was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with her family, travelling, and gardening. Maria was known to pray up to four rosaries a day. Among her greatest joys was travelling to Italy, where, in addition to visiting family, she visited all of the basilicas in Rome during the 1950 holy year and walked through all of the holy doors in Rome. She also attended masses celebrated by Saint Padre Pio, His Holiness Pope Paul the VI, and was present during the canonization ceremony of Saint Maria Goretti. During the year 2000 holy year, Maria once again walked through the holy door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Maria was a member of the Ladies of the Dukes and Saint Vitus Church.

Maria is survived by her sister, Filomena Santosuosso Marella of Faeto, Foggia, Italy; a son, Dr. Emmanuel A. Yanelli of Rootstown, OH and wife, Kelly; a daughter, Elizabeth M. Yanelli Shreckengost of Muddycreek Township and husband, Bryan; two grandchildren, Sara Elizabeth and Gianna Maria Yanelli of Rootstown, OH; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Ed and Don DeCarbo Funeral Home and Crematory 941 S Mill St. A procession will leave the funeral home Saturday at 9:30am to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at St. Vitus Church, officiated by Father William Siple.

Interment will take place in St. Vitus Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vitus School, 915 South Jefferson Street, New Castle, Pa 16101.