Laura M. Della Villa

ROTTERDAM – Laura M. Della Villa, 96, of Niskayuna Street, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 24th at home.
Laura was born in Rotterdam on April 10, 1926, a daughter of the late Pasquale (Patsy) and Mary Pisano Cuomo. She attended Jefferson Elementary School and graduated from Draper High School. At the age of 16, she went to work at the Army Depot, on Duanesburg Road, delivering mail. Women joining the workforce during WWII was crucial to the war effort, at that time, the General Electric was developing technology to enhance the protection of soldiers and strategic locations, and this prompted Laura to join her older sister Lucy, at the GE, working on circuit boards. In later years, Laura worked as a marketing agent for Codino’s, ensuring that the products on the shelves were what the customers wanted, and for Main Florist, enhancing her love of flowers. She later worked at Union College as a house monitor, where she cooked and kept a loving watchful eye over the students. She enjoyed preparing and cooking many dishes and especially enjoyed feeding everyone, and decided to do some catering for family and friends. She once catered a party for Gov. Mario Cuomo and served her parish, Our Lady of the Assumption, helping with numerous events and especially the annual feasta. Laura was a lifelong communicant of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish; a member of the Miraculous Medal Association and a Knights of Columbus Columbiette.
Laura was a woman of devout faith, being a loving wife, mother and grandmother was a gift she cherished. All that she did above and beyond for everyone else, she did for God.
She was predeceased in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Salvatore Della Villa, Sr., whom she married on June 27, 1948; siblings, Ralph Cuomo, Lucy Buono, Frank Cuomo, Neil Cuomo, Peter Cuomo, Antoinette Peek, Rose Mary DeSantis, and Virginia Mercoglan.
Laura is survived by her loving children, Corinne Della Villa, of Rotterdam, Salvatore A. Della Villa, Jr., and his wife Veronica, of Naples FL, and Michael Della Villa and his wife Debbie of Delanson; cherished grandchildren, Salvatore A. Della Villa, III, Anthony P. Della Villa, Lauren (Ryan) Baker, Cara M. Della Villa, Evan M. Della Villa; great-granddaughters, Emma G. Baker, Olivia M. Baker and Claire A. Baker, many loving nieces and nephews.
With grateful hearts, the Della Villa family is thankful to Eddy SeniorCare and The Community Hospice, for all of the assistance, care, compassion and empathy shown to Laura and our family.
Services will be held on Friday, at 10am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at Our Lady Queen of Peace. Interment will follow in Sts. Cyril & Method Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home on Friday morning from 8 am to 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to The Community Hospice at communityhospice.org.