Mary J. (Ferrise) Sansalone, 91, of Mansfield passed away peacefully on September 29th at Oak Grove Manor surrounded by her loving family.
The daughter of Joseph and Sara Ferrise, Mary was born on March 4, 1925 in Mansfield, OH and graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1943. She married the love of her life, Joe Sansalone, on May 19, 1962. While her husband passed away only four short years after their nuptials, Mary spoke of him often and affectionately and never remarried after his passing. He was her true love and while his untimely death was tragic, she managed to raise two children on her own while working at the family business, Ferrise’s Third Street Market, and later Reed’s Department Store where she retired in 1986.
Mary’s role as mother and nana was the most important thing to her as this was where she drew her strength. Her life had many obstacles and while she struggled with poor health for the past 30 years, her strong will to live and unwavering faith in God carried her through it all. Mary’s love and compassion for her family remained her focus and her love for them was endless. Keeping focused on what is truly important, not only when your life is easy, but when it is difficult was Mary’s legacy and a wonderful example for others to follow.
Mary, a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, is survived by her beloved children and their spouses, Joe and Tracy Sansalone and Mary Angela and James Ousley, all of Ontario, OH; adored grandsons Kenny Ousley, Vinny Sansalone and Tony Sansalone, all of Ontario, OH; sisters Angie Ferrise and Theresa Raff, brother and sister-in-law Sam and Ernestine Ferrise, all of Mansfield, OH and many nieces, nephews and friends. A special thanks to her caregiver, Shari Workman, Ohio Health Hospice, and Oak Grove Manor – especially to Rosa Woodruff her angel this side of Heaven.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by husband Joe Sansalone, Sr., step-mother Angelina Ferrise, uncle Sam LaSusa, brother-in-law Gerhart Raff, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mike and Marion Sansalone.
Friends and family may call at Herlihy-Chambers Funeral Home, 173 Park Avenue West, on October 3rd from 4-7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Oct. 4 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with Fr. Jeremy Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Mansfield Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 1550 Old Henderson Road, Suite N-160, Columbus, OH 43220 or St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 54 S. Mulberry Street, Mansfield, OH 44902.
