Mario Passarelli

He and Antoinette Romano grew up in Tricarico, Matera, Italy, and fell in love and married there. They immigrated to the United States in 1963, moving to West Brighton, and settled in Annadale in 1975.

Mr. Passarelli was a member of Local 51, Mason Tenders Union, and a hardworking mason for 34 years. He retired in 1996.

He loved soccer and his favorite team was Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and enjoyed being an uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Passarelli was beloved by all who had the opportunity to know him and will be deeply missed, his family said.

He was a parishioner of Holy Child R.C. Church, Eltingville.

Antoinette, his wife of 51 years, died in 2009.

Mr. Passarelli is survived by his brother, Guido, and his sisters, Maria Farina and Rina Passarelli-Pinto.

The funeral will be Saturday from the Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Child Church. Entombment will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.