Theresa Dalessio

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Native Staten Islander Theresa Dalessio, 75, who wrote about her life as a sheltered mob daughter and later as a "mala femina" — Italian for "bad woman" — died Saturday at her Manhattan home.

Years before mob daughters, fictional or real, were portrayed on HBO or in reality TV shows, she grew up in Concord in a world of tough-talking men and beautiful women, followed by the turmoil of a teenage pregnancy, four marriages, a battle with substance abuse and prison time. She later moved to Great Kills.

Ms. Dalessio owned the former Bill Bailey's Bar on Bay Street in Stapleton during the 1970s.

After turning things around, she settled into a quiet life 16 years ago in Manhattan, where she wrote the book.

It was a therapeutic experience, she told the Advance in 2003, after the book was published.

"When I wrote the book it was closure to a lot of things — like releasing steam from a boiler," she said. She believed it could help others unconnected to the mob: "A lot of people have demons, some of them live with them their whole life. This helped me release a lot of demons from my memory," she said.

Ms. Dalessio was devoted to her children and grandchildren. She loved to read and write, and enjoyed being with family in the Poconos and Point Pleasant, N.J.

"She was close to her daughter-in-law, Judy Besser, who helped take care of her," said her son, Ronald Besser.

Ms. Dalessio was preceded in death by her son, Leonard Besser, in 1995, and her son, John Buttino, in 1998.

Surviving, along with her son, Ronald, are her son, Frank Besser; her daughter, Stephanie Alexander; two brothers, John and Patrick Dalessio; 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.