Smaldon Mary Nancy

Mary Nancy Campanaro Smaldon, 85, affectionately known as Dolly, passed away peacefully at home with her loving family by her side on Saturday, December 7, 2013. Dolly was born in Rome NY, on March 25, 1928, daughter of Nicholas and Edvige Panara Campanaro. On October 8, 1949, she married her childhood sweetheart, Michael Nicholas Smaldon, in St. John the Baptist Church. Dolly was a graduate of RFA, class of 1946. She worked at the Candyland Restaurant as a waitress and helped make their famous turkey joints. She also worked as a bookkeeper at Janone's Plumbing and retired in 1985 after working for 35 years as a secretary in Civil Engineering at GAFB. During the winters she and her family loved vacationing and working at her brother’s motel, The Heathwood, in Miami Beach, Florida. She enjoyed working at the voting booths for city elections as well. Family always came first for Dolly. She enjoyed going to all of her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. Her passions were shopping, making sauce, baking cookies, dancing, singing and going to the casino. Dolly relaxed with her family at her camp on Lake Delta. She was a member of the Rome Hospital Lilac Twig and St. John the Baptist Marion Guild. Dolly is survived by her beloved family, her husband of 64 years, Michael, two daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle and Paul Jensen; Cindi and Rowe Wheeler; a son and daughter-in-law, James and Donna Smaldon all of Rome; nine cherished grandchildren, Brandi, Ashley and Jamie Smaldon and her fiancé Ralph Vacca, ShelliAnn and Michael Jensen, Rowe James, James and Michael Wheeler, all of Rome; Cori and Josh Purdy and three precious great grandchildren, Joshua, Nicholas and Zachary Purdy, all of Eielson AFB, Alaska. Also surviving are a loving sister and brother, Amelia Ritz of Rome and Peter Campanaro of Boynton Beach, Florida; brothers-in-law, Anthony "Curly" Smaldon and Ralph Smaldon both of Rome and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, John "Skippy" Ritz; Mary Rose and Romeo Pouliot; Edward and Betty Smaldon; Frank and Catherine Smaldon; Jackie Smaldon, Jeanette Smaldon, infant James Smaldon and James Smaldon. Dolly was deeply loved and had many special friends; some have gone before her and some she left behind. A special thank you to Nonny Doll's caregivers, Lucy, Carol, Dawn and Ashley for their kindness and compassion, the physicians and staff of 2 North at Rome Hospital and the entire staff of Hospice and Palliative Care. The family would like to express their gratitude to Father Paul Angelicchio, Father James Tormey and Father Robert Kelly for their prayers, special visits and thoughtfulness during her illness. Friends may call at Bottini Funeral Home, 120 W. Embargo St., Rome, on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. John the Baptist Church on Wednesday at 11 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio as celebrant. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice and Palliative Care, or St. John the Baptist Church Memorial Fund. Envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.