Marie Angela Mazzuca

Marie Angela Marangi was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 2nd, 1923. She was the 4th of 5 children and the first girl of the family. Her Italian parents--Angelo and Maria (Mauro) came to this country through Ellis Island, New York in March of 1913. Angelo died of an infected tooth when Marie was 9 years old.

After working to support the World War 2 effort at home, and on New Year's Eve 1950, Marie married long-time family friend from Philadelphia, PA--Armand Frank Mazzuca. They relocated to Colorado so Armand could attend Denver University on the GI Bill, earning a Master's Degree in Psychology.

Marie and Armand had their first child--Marie (Jr) Anita on December 5th, 1953. Then came Armand (Jr) "Guy" Arthur on April 1st, 1955, Stephen Alan on August 30th, 1957, and Mark Edward on August 8th, 1960. By 1962, this Mazzuca family of six had settled in Newbury Park, CA and Armand took a job at Camarillo State Hospital mental institution.

This new move to Newbury Park would prove to be a good one and it yielded many good friends and good times for the Mazzuca children. However, life would get tougher for Marie as Mom (Maria) Marangi would die of pneumonia in 1968, Marie's marriage to Armand would end in 1971 as well as the support of her church, and on July 9th, 1978 her two oldest children were in a terrible car accident. Guy did not survive, but thankfully Marie Anita did survive and fully recovered.

Through it all, this tough but gentle mother of now three children stayed positive. She greeted life with a smile every day and continued her devotion to God, Jesus, and especially her children. Marie never dated or remarried.

Marie's dementia in her last years did not dampen her spirit, her will, or her special giggle. Her caregivers called her their "Little Angel" and shared that Marie had a smile on her face when she passed away. She lived a long and blessed life.

Marie was preceded in death by her brothers Anthony, Arthur, Vito and sister Anne Marangi. She is survived by her daughter Marie, sons Steve and Mark, and Grandchildren Megan, Mallory, and Nick Mazzuca, and Stephanie Ericsen (Mazzuca).