Obituary of Mary Sue Cerrone

MARY SUE CERRONE (1919-2011) went to our Lord and Savior on Sept. 28, 2011 following a brief hospitalization in Richmond, Va. with pneumonia. The first of six children of Frank and Anna Landolfi, of Trenton, NJ, to survive childhood, Mary was the last sibling to depart this life. Preceding her in death were four brothers, Ralph, Joseph, Louis, and Thomas Landolfi, and a sister, Rose Hujber. Born of immigrant parents, raised during the abject poverty era of the Great Depression, an era in which women had limited opportunities, she overcame the social mores and discriminating norms of her time to become an enduring and fiduciary proprietor of Anthony's Pastry Shop, a well-known maker of fine Italian and French pastry delicacies in the Italian Chambersburg section of Trenton for over thirty years. Following the end of WW II, Mary married Anthony B. Cerrone in 1946. They had first met in 1936 when Anthony had come to Trenton to visit with his brother, Louis. In 1938, Anthony's Pastry Shop was established, becoming an overnight success. Anthony had immigrated from Naples, Italy during the early 1920's and had worked as a chef of Italian and French pastries at the famous Ferrara bakery in New York City, and at several major New York hotels. An established ballroom dancer at Roseland, Anthony later turned to a professional dancing career, touring the country with his dancing partner, and the two attained dancing parts in an early 1930's Hollywood movie. In 1950, Anthony succumbed to inoperable cancer, leaving Mary with two young children, a very demanding business, and totally unprepared for the difficulties she was about to encounter. Mary survived these obstacles, managing the business and providing for her children for the next twenty years, sacrificing her personal well-being so that her children could be given a good foundation for life. Following the sale of the business in 1970, Mary lived with her son for her remaining years, first in the elegant and tropical resort town of Boca Raton, Fl. and later in historic and lovely Richmond, Va. Mary is survived by a son, Alexander Cerrone, a daughter, Emmanuella Piscopo, and two adopted children of Emmanuella, Gina and Christina. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday, October 4th, at 11 AM followed by services at St. Mary's Cemetery. There will be no viewing.