Marion Vanwart

Marion R. VanWart, 90, of Rochester, MN died on April 6, 2014 at the Shorewood Senior Campus. A Funeral Mass will be at 11:00am on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester.Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.There will be a second visitation later this week at Cargain Funeral Home in Carmel, NY. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Yonkers, NY. Marion was born on July 5, 1923 in Yonkers, NY to Antonino and Florence (Faiella) Straguzzi.Her father owned a noodle factory and she had a big traditional Italian family with four brothers and two sisters.She also had a very famous cousin Chazz Palminteri, who was in the movie, A Bronx Tale.Marion worked as a manager for Jenungs Department Stores until she met her first husband, Patsy Ficalora.They had two beautiful children, Robert and Janice Ficalora.Marion then transitioned to running the liquor store they owned when Patsy became ill. The liquor store business wasn't all fun and games. She was held up at gun point on two different occasions.Her husband Pat unfortunately later passed on, so Marion sold the liquor store and moved to Massachusetts to start a career in politics.She had the opportunity to work for Mitt Romney and helped him become the governor of Massachusetts.She won many awards for her work campaigning for Mr. Romney.She married a second time to Bill VanWart who also unfortunately later passed away.Marion then came to Rochester to be close to her son who is a doctor.Marion enjoyed cooking and baking and playing her organ and the piano.Shewas also was a very talented artist and took pleasure in painting. Marion is survived by her two children, Robert Ficalora and Janice Kolesar.She has two step-sons, Peter and William VanWart and seven grandchildren, Laura Kolesar, Alex, Marc, Neal, Ellen and Claire Ficalora and David VanWart. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to St. Croix Hospice.