Mary Rita Scarantino

Mary was born on January 6, 1944, the third child to the late Patrick and Pauline Colarusso of Pittston, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Bloomsburg State College with a BA, Mary received a MA degree from the University of Scranton. She went on to teach elementary school in California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.

On August 16, 1969, she married Charles Scarantino, the love of her life and partner of nearly 53 years. Mary devoted her life to raising her children and nurturing her family. She brilliantly executed moves from Winston-Salem, NC to Rochester, NY, to Mobile Ala, back to Winston-Salem, NC, to Greenville, NC and finally (and happily) to Raleigh, NC. The family has lived in Raleigh for 34 years and is thankful to call it home. Mary was an expert at making any house where her family lived into a loving, happy, and beautiful home. She always said a house is not what makes a home, home is being with the people you love. Anywhere Mary was, it always felt like home. Family always came first.

Family and faith were the most important things in Mary’s life. She greatly enjoyed family holiday gatherings and adored time spent with her grandchildren. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, cousin, aunt, grandmother, and daughter in Christ. She loved the Lord with all of her being and lived his teachings in every aspect of her life. Her church family and her Tuesday prayer group were very near to her heart. An active member in her church, she was a Eucharistic Minister, and helped many find their way to the Lord.

Among other things, Mary loved to garden, to paint, and to stitch. She nurtured her plants, and her creations in exactly the way she nurtured her family - with love, patience, and attention to detail. Mary was an avid reader and a lover of knowledge and learning. All of her volunteer work over the years was centered around helping others. She fought tirelessly throughout her life for those who were the most vulnerable.

Mary is survived by her husband, Charles; her daughter, Nadine Pittman and husband William Pittman and their children, William Charles ‘Chase’ and John Carlton Pittman; as well her son, Charles ‘Chas’ and his wife Danielle and their children, Asher and Crew Scarantino and Boden and Sage Levesque; her brother, Joseph Colarusso; and sister, Phyllis Manganello; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were as close to her as family. Mary’s passing creates a void for all whom she touched and she will be greatly missed.

A funeral service will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh on Friday, August 26th at 11:00 am, with a reception following in the Fallon Center at Our Lady of Lourdes.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, 7200 Stonehenge Dr., Raleigh NC 27613, www.catholiccharitiesraleigh.org or to The Door Fund by sending a check to, Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, 7200 Stonehenge Dr. Raleigh, NC 27613

Please specify “gift for diocese in memory of Mary Scarantino” on the memo line of the check. Both of these organizations serve to help those in need.

Services provided by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.