Mary C Del Vecchio

Mary Cruciani Del Vecchio, 100, passed away peacefully on February 6th, 2022 at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mary was born in 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to two proud Italian immigrant parents, Pietro and Armita Cruciani. She attended elementary, middle, and high school through the Minnesota public school system and was proud of the education she received. After high school, Mary began working as a secretary at General Mills where she made many life-long friends. In 1942, she joined the first contingency of Lady Marines in World War II and attended bootcamp at Hunter College in New York City. Her secretarial skills came in handy when she was recruited to assist officers with desk work. A female officer she worked with saw Mary’s potential and encouraged her to go to college using the GI Bill. After the War, Mary took that advice and attended college at the College of St. Katherine in St. Paul, MN where she graduated with a degree in psychology.

In 1948, Mary met Anthony Del Vecchio, a handsome Italian Naval officer who knocked on her family’s front door looking for a room to rent. She described meeting Tony as nothing short of a miracle as she was in the middle of praying for a husband when Tony showed up on her doorstep. They were married in 1950 and had seven beautiful children. During the unfolding decades, Mary worked as a homemaker and supported her husband in his work as a Clinical Psychologist.

Mary was a life-long Catholic, and considered her relationship with Jesus her most important relationship. She was always active in her home parishes, whether at St. Matthew’s Parish in St. Paul or at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary in Las Vegas. She served in a variety of roles, including as a catechist, Vacation Bible School leader, member of the Pro-Life club, alto in the choir, and supplier of cake to the parish funeral lunch team. She had a passion for introducing people to the person of Christ and was often successful through sharing her favorite Bible verses, letting people know she was praying for them, and encouraging people to attend Mass with her.

An avid reader, Mary consumed more books than her family could supply and was always quick to recommend a good book to family and friends. Her favorite authors included Nicholas Sparks, Dave Baldacci, Danielle Steele, and Nora Roberts. While reading, she often loved to drink a hot chocolate, and if she was feeling particularly fancy, would add a splash of liquor to make it “exotic” (or erotic as she famously exclaimed accidentally in a crowded restaurant).

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Del Vecchio and her six siblings. She is survived by her seven children and their families, including six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Steve Del Vecchio and Rose Tretter of Stillwater, MN; Thomas Del Vecchio of Las Vegas, NV; Ann and Jeffrey McDonough (her favorite and only son-in-law) and Mary of Las Vegas, NV; Jim and Darlene Del Vecchio, and Anna, Ryon, Ryker, and Emett Hogue of Amarillo, TX; Nick Del Vecchio and Timothy Tan of Las Vegas, NV; Mark and Angela Del Vecchio and Katie, Kristi, Carolyn and Andreas of St. Cloud, MN; John and Anne Del Vecchio, and Anna and Alexei of St. Paul, MN.

Mary’s Visitation will be held on March 8th from 4-6pm at Palm Dignity Mortuary on Jones and Oakey in Las Vegas, Nevada. Comments from family and friends will begin at 5pm with the rosary to follow at 5:30pm. Her Mass of Christian Burial is on March 9th at 10am at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada with interment to follow at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.