Mary T. Bocchino

(nee Duffy) On December 28, 2023 of Sewell. Age 75. Beloved spouse of David. Devoted Mother of Bridget DeMore (Jimmy), Maria Reilley (Rich), Nancy McCrea (Kevin), Michael Bocchino (Lauren), and Kathleen Owens (Phil). Loving grandmother of Nicholas, Joseph, Sean, Ryan, Andrew, Emily, Maria, Tessa, David, Olivia, Christine, Lizzie, Liam, and the late Grace. Dear sister of the late Joseph Duffy (the late Nancy), Margaret “Peggy” Carty (Richard), Kathy DelVecchio (Robert “Bach”), and Rosemarie Stanton. Loved by nieces and nephews. Survived by beloved members of the St. Mary the Virgin Chapel.

Our beloved Wife, Mother, and Nini, lived a holy life devoted to Our Lord, The Blessed Mother, Saint Therese the Little Flower, and Saint Mary’s the Virgin Chapel.

She was the center of our universe. She enjoy spending time with her family. Always celebrating every occasion big or small. Many birthdays, Saint Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Cookies with Nini, Weenie Wednesdays. The list goes on and on. Without fail, she made every occasion so special for all of us. Each grandchild got a giant cupcake cake on their birthdays. And the “adult” kids got their special requests…which was usually a quiche, German potato salad, you name it, she made it. Just to make us feel special. Our happiness and our souls were always her number one priority for us all. And she mastered that. If she was being graded, she most definitely gets an A+++.

Known to her five children as “Mommy” …. Which everyone always made fun of us for, jokingly of course. But Mommy will always be Mommy to the five of her children.

Mary and her beloved husband, David,  shared 51 years of marriage. Which is an inspiration for us all. Last year we

celebrated their 50th Anniversary, and it was everything she could have wished for and more. Her veil from her wedding day, along with a life size poster cutout of them both on their wedding day was a memory that all of us will cherish forever. Their love and commitment is one that everyone hopes to have and achieve. Their marriage was cut short at 51 years, but the memories made, the children they brought into the world, and helping raise their 13 grandchildren is priceless. Poppy will now be taken care of by her 5 children, all of them are their spouses, and all the grandchildren. And we assured Mommy that she has nothing to worry about, that Daddy would be ok and we will take over all of her many tasks that made life happen and run smoothly.

Mommy worked on the railroad for many years and retired after having children. She very much enjoyed her time there and took pride in her career at the railroad.

She graduated from Camden High School in 1966, that of which she graduated sixth in her class. We always reminded her how smart she was. Because there was never a day that one of us didn’t call her for some sort of help and in dire need of her smarts. And she always always always came up with a solution.

Our family is so close knit, and we all spoke to Mommy 100x a day. She never failed at giving the best advise and encouragement to us all. Even if it was words of wisdom we needed to hear. She would say “Worry about nothing. Instead pray about everything.” Another one,  “Don’t trouble trouble unless trouble troubles you.” Another, “Sleeping is the balm for hurting hearts and minds” to assure us that it is as ok to stop, and just give our minds a rest and sleep away any heartache we may have. There never was a time that she didn’t have the right words.

She had a love for traveling her entire life. She told a fun story of a trip to California with her sister, Rose Marie, which was sadly spoken at her funeral just two short months ago. We had many Bocchino family vacations to Florida to visit Mommom and Poppop Gallagher. Tons of precious memories were made on those many trips. She also traveled many times to Ireland with her children, sister, and niece. She also went on a spiritual pilgrimage with her best friend, Linda Brotschol. One of her favorite visits was to the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. She blessed our family photo with special Lourdes holy water and brought us each back our own bottle. Her last drink was actually a sip of that blessed Lourdes water she brought home, which we are certain made her heart smile even under the scary and sad circumstance she was in.

She discovered Father Leo Heinrichs, a priest from the mid to late 1800’s. While distributing communion at the 6:00 AM Mass at Saint Elizabeth Church, Denver, CO, Fr. Leo was shot and killed.  As Fr. Leo was dying,

his last act of love was gathering the Blessed Sacrament that had fallen from the ciborium. She has been making it her life’s mission to get him named a Saint. We all also traveled yearly to Totowa, New Jersey to visit his gravesite and to recite the rosary,  sprinkle rose petals and say special prayers for Father Leo. We will continue that mission and tradition for her in her honor.

Her sisters were always her utmost priority. She loved her twinny twin twin, Kathleen DelVecchio (Aunt Kathy) which is a bond that no one could understand except the two of them. She always helped Peggy Carty (Aunt Peggy) with sorting her medicines and loved every minute of assisting her and caring for her. She always enjoyed her time with Rose Marie Stanton (Auntie Ree). They often had dinner, just the three of them….Mommy, Daddy, and Auntie Ree. Mommy was always concerned and didn’t want Auntie Ree alone. Her dear brother, Joseph Duffy (Uncle Joe), left us too soon, but not a day went by that she didn’t pray for him.

Mommy really wanted to get to Rome this year, as this is where she and Poppy honeymooned. We would always speak of our plans to get to Rome to the Vatican on our Weenie Wednesday’s this summer that just passed. Our hope is to get there in her honor this coming year. As we all know that is what she would want.

She had a special “prayer room” that shows her devotion to Our Lord. She prayed everyday for everyone who has ever passed, even strangers of sad obituaries she saw in the newspaper. She has all of their names written down, and obituaries and mass cards in a special album. She even thanked all of our guardian angels for scary events that took place in all of our lives. Saving us from bad car accidents, etc. The list of her thanks and people she prays for daily is longer than anyone could ever imagine. Those she prayed for daily will continue on, because we will take over for her because that is exactly what she would want.

She adored her grandchildren and enjoyed her iPad “dinging” constantly. Which mostly consisted of photos of all of the kids. Some days if she fell asleep while the conversation was still happening, she would wake up to 150+ messages. We would tell her not to waste her time reading them all bc it was just a bunch of nonsense about nothing. Which was what it was most times. As stated previously, we are very tight knit family. Attached to each others hips 24/7. Some may think we are crazy, but we need each other and are beyond blessed to be this close. Because now, more than ever, we need each other. And we have Mommy to thank for our closeness and special bond. We are who we all are because of Mommy.

It is so hard to put a life down on paper, especially when that person was the most wonderful soul of a human on the face of the planet who was adored by all who’s lives she touched. Will end with this. She said, sadly at her sisters funeral two months ago, that she was the last leaf of her family tree. That last leaf has now fallen, but none of those leaves will ever be forgotten and will forever be missed. Though that tree is now bare, Bare branches reach towards Heaven, reminding us that life is precious and we never know when our own leaf will fall. A prayer she wrote in all five of our prayer books she and Poppy gave us said as follows:

Life’s clock ticks towards eternity. Use your time wisely as we leave this world with only our spiritual bank accounts. May this prayer book assist you in that spiritual journey. Much love, Mom and Pops. “Make me realize, oh my God, the nothingness of this world, the greatness of Heaven, the shortness of time and the length of eternity.”

-Pope Clement XI.

Mommy also wrote her own prayer many years again and she’d want it shared with everyone. It’s as follows:

May our tears water the flowers in heaven and cool the flames of the poor souls in purgatory. Amen.

We hope we make you proud Mommy. We will miss you forever and always. Our lives will never be the same without your love, guidance, support, prayers, laughter and smile. But you taught us well and will all do our best to honor you in all ways possible. We love you to the moon, the stars, the sky and back, infinity times. And even more than that. Thank you for being the best wife, mother and grandmother  to us all. We will pray for you daily and miss you deeply.

Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Tuesday 8:30 – 10:30 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Family requests Mass of Christian Burial will be private, due to size restrictions of the church. All are welcome to meet at the interment at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr at 12:45 PM.

“A Life Well Lived Is Worth Remembering”