Mary Vansevicius Guagliardo

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late Casimiro and Helen Vansevicius on Nov. 29, 1958, she moved to Staten Island in 1987. She attended St. Joseph's High School, Brooklyn, and graduated from Long Island University.

Mary was a board-certified registered nurse, beginning her career at New York Methodist Hospital, where she spent 15 years. She then worked as a sexual abstinence educator for the Not Me, Not Now program at various elementary and high schools around the Island. Students referred to her as the "Sex Lady" at this job she truly enjoyed.

At the time of her illness, Mary had been working at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Brooklyn for the last 12 years, where she absolutely loved and felt honored caring for those who served. She would take personal interest in getting to know her patients better, always going that extra mile, as that was the type of person she was. During Super Storm Sandy she delivered medicine and food to patients in storm- struck areas.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bartholomew Baldera, who passed away in the Vietnam War, and her sister, Paulina Amoroso.

She is survived by her husband of 33 years and college sweetheart, John Guagliardo Jr.; daughter, Chrystie-Lynn Luongo; son, John Guagliardo III; son-in-law, Vincent Luongo; two sisters, Elizabeth Vansevicius and Helen Albicocco; one brother-in-law, four nieces, two nephews and two grandchildren.

Mary enjoyed going to the beach, walks with friends, dancing anywhere at any time, Broadway plays, party planning and plotting practical jokes. However, her favorite pastime was spending time hanging out or at the park with her 20-month-old grandson, Joseph, and four- month old granddaughter, Alexandra, the 'joys' of her life.

"Mary was the life of the party with her vibrant personality, impeccable sense of humor and genuine nature. She was a great friend and a perfect example of what the world needs more of, and we all loved and adored her," said her husband, John.

Visitation will take place at Casey Funeral Home on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass at Blessed Sacrament will take place on Monday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m., with a burial at Fairview Cemetery.