Marie Olivieri

Marie D. Olivieri
1928 - 2024

Southbury, CT – Marie D. Olivieri, 96, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at The Watermark at East Hill in Southbury. She was predeceased by her husband, Mario D. Olivieri, with whom she was inseparable. She’d call out “Mar” – and then “Mar” again – until he answered. He did for more than 71 years.

Marie was born on July 8, 1928, in Waterbury. She was the daughter of John and Pauline Macchia. Marie was raised in the second-floor apartment of a three-family home in Town Plot, her beloved Waterbury neighborhood that was the source of many of her stories. She attended Barnard Elementary School and Crosby High School before heading to the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus, where she studied business.

In 1949, four days before her 21st birthday, Marie married Mario. They started a life together in Naugatuck, where Mario built the house in which they hosted dozens of Christmas dinners – which weren’t complete until Marie uncovered her meatballs, rolled with a surgeon’s precision, and Italian cookies, frosted with an artist’s eye. They lived there for more than five decades.

Marie and Mario were co-owners of The Home Market, a grocery store in Naugatuck, which operated for more than 40 years. Later in life, Marie worked at Bozzuto’s, a wholesale food distributor in Cheshire, where she was the life of the accounts receivable department. In retirement, Marie and Mario moved to Southbury, where Marie spent the last 22 years of her life.

Marie had a standup’s timing. Her laugh filled any room. She loved white wine and the Wheel of Fortune slots, but nothing could take the place of her family, both far and near. She is survived by her son, Adam, and his wife, Jean, of Oakland, Calif. and her son, John, and his wife, Donna, of Watertown; grandchildren, Kendra Olivieri and her husband, Tom, of Pleasant Hill, Calif.; Anthony Olivieri and his wife, Sylvia, of Prospect; Simon Olivieri and his wife, Vanessa, of Alameda, Calif.; and Eric Olivieri of Boston. She leaves six great-grandchildren – Kate Webster, Natalie Olivieri, Mario Olivieri, Daniel Webster, Penelope Olivieri and Giovanni Olivieri – a sister-in-law, Ann Palmer, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Marie also was predeceased by her brother, William Macchia, and his wife, Louise, who were her neighbors and best friends.

The family held private funeral services shortly after her death. Memorial contributions in honor of Marie can be mailed to Holy Disciples Parish, 21 Academy Hill, Watertown, 06795.