Mary 'Sponge' Pidgeon

January 3, 1915 - November 4, 2015

SCHENECTADY – Mary 'Sponge' Pidgeon, 100, a lifelong resident of N. Jay Street, embraced her Lord and was reunited with her loved ones on Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Mary was born in Pennsylvania on January 3, 1915, a daughter of the late Antonio and Concetta (Rossi) Valentino. She located to Schenectady as a young girl, attending local schools. She graduated from Continuation School on Barrett Street, where she learned the sewing trade. Her passion for cooking was only outweighed by the overwhelming joy she received by sharing with family and friends. Still at the age of 100, Mary grinds her own meat and cheeses. She will be remembered for her iconic Christmas Dinners. Her legacy left to all who know her is of a lively spirited, strong, faith filled, compassionate woman, who served her Lord here on Earth. Mary was a lifelong communicant of the former St. John the Baptist Church and later attended St. Luke's Church. Mary was gracious and thankful to; the Papa & Perreca family, for their friendship and kindness throughout the years; her care team, John DeMatteo; Jill DeMatteo, Barbara Thompson, Deborah Butler, Meg Przekop, Etta Cuff and Cheryl Coughlin, for their love, care and compassion; and the nursing and therapy staff on 3 Mohawk at Ellis Residential & Rehabilitation Center for the exemplary and dignified care over the past few weeks. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Louis "Bay" Pidgeon whom she married on August 2, 1934, on December 26, 1975; her siblings, Nicolina Giaquinto, Raffaela DeMatteo, Louise Friello, Dominick "Lee", Fred and Warren Valentino. Mary is survived by her son, Donald Pidgeon and his wife Martha, of Ft. Pierce, FL; grandchildren, Katherine Gilbert (Shane) and Brenda Masa; four great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law; her beloved cat Toby (BooBoo); many loving and devoted, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews also survive. Services will be held on Saturday from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, 501 Union Street, at 8 am and then to St. Luke's Church where a Mass will be concelebrated at 9 am.. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Saturday morning at 8 am. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary's memory to the Food Pantry c/o St. Luke's Church, 1240 State Street, Schenectady or to Animal Protective Foundation, 53 Maple Avenue, Scotia, NY 12302.