Roberta Ann Fugazzi

Roberta Ann (Farrelly) Fugazzi was born in The Bronx, New York on June 3, 1940. She is a graduate of St. Barnabas High School and The College of Mount St. Vincent, Class of 1961, where she had an academic scholarship. It was at “The Mount” that she met many of her life-long East Coast friends. She also holds a master’s degree in education from Hunter College in New York City. She first taught at Grace Dodge Vocational High School and then Bronx Community College, where she trained students in applied business principles.

She eventually met the love of her life, Peter, and, after they were married in 1971, moved with him to Bologna, Italy. She learned to speak Italian fluently and loved her time overseas. During this period, they welcomed their two sons, James (in 1972) and Alexander (in 1975). She moved to Okemos in 1977 and would happily remain in mid-Michigan where they raised their family. Roberta was an avid reader and especially enjoyed bringing friends and family together for parties. She always looked forward to social gatherings and dining-out. She and Peter would develop many deep and lasting friendships here.She instilled in her family the principles of hard-work, discipline, kindness, faith and education. She especially loved spending time with her six grandchildren and will always be “Grandma Berta” to her Michigan grandchildren and “Grandma Bertie” to her Nevada grandchildren. She enjoyed travelling back to her native New York but was even happier returning to Michigan.

Her Catholic faith was very important to her. She enjoyed her years of volunteering first at St. Thomas Aquinas then at St. Martha’s—assistant at funeral masses, counting the collection on Mondays and organizing/cleaning the church on Fridays in preparation for weekend services. Of course, this job always entailed lunch afterwards with “the ladies.”

She died peacefully on December 6, 2024, at the age of 84.

The family would like to thank all of her wonderful caregivers over the last few years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Rita Farrelly, her husband, Dr. Peter Fugazzi, and sisters, Rita and Gail Farrelly. She is survived by her brother, James (Barbara) Farrelly of Manchester, NJ, sons James (Michelle Matousek) of Okemos, MI and Alex (Tracey) Fugazzi, of Henderson, NV, along with six grandchildren—Andrew, Xan, Gabby, Annabell, Arlynn and Ava.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at St Martha Catholic Church, 1100 W Grand River Ave, Okemos, with visitation from 10:00 am until the time of Mass. A luncheon will follow. The family will receive friends from 5:30 - 8:00 pm Monday at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes East Chapel, 1730 E. Grand River, East Lansing, with the Rosary prayed at 7:30 pm.