Mary Jane (Zanecchia) Meloccaro

Mary Jane passed away peacefully on June 14, 2020, surrounded by her loving family.  She was the beloved wife of Alfred S. Meloccaro for 67 years. Mary was the loving mother of Wendy Catalfamo and her husband John, John Meloccaro and his wife Susan and Ronald Meloccaro. She was the grandmother of the late John A. Meloccaro, Jr., Stephanie McDougall and her husband Jason, Michael Catalfamo and his husband Matthew, and Joseph Catalfamo. She was the great-grandmother of Cameron Meloccaro, Mason Meloccaro, Liliana McDougall and Landon McDougall. She was predeceased by her brothers Armando, Arnold, Alessandro, Americo, and her sisters Lena Ciavaglia, Anna Perrotta, and Inez Fracasso.

Born on February 10, 1933, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Mary Jane was the daughter of Aristide and Pompilia (Moscatelli) Zanecchia who immigrated from Italy and settled in Rhode Island. She worked in the jewelry industry, graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School, and worked as a secretary.  Mary Jane devoted herself to her husband and three children.  She then obtained her real estate license and was employed by RE/MAX and Albert Realtors.  Later on Mary Jane was a florist for various floral shops, which was her true passion.  She was a devoted parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston since its inception and a member of the Immaculate Conception Church Prayer Shawl Ministry, which she enjoyed very much.

She loved life and “grabbed the brass ring” whenever she could.  She realized how important it was to live her life to the fullest, to love, and to laugh.   She was a spirited woman of great faith, resilience, fortitude, and compassion. She was always there for friends or family members in need, ready to give generously and selflessly. She had a heart of gold as big as the sea and a personality bigger than life itself.

Her love shone through when she hosted family gatherings and parties. It brought her great joy to bring everyone together.  She had a way of making everyone she knew feel very special and loved, some of whom thought of her as a mother.

Her happiest moments were being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, giving them her undivided attention and love.

Throughout her life she loved flowers and gardening, hosting many pool parties, going out on their boat, the beach - always followed by some Brickley’s ice cream, skiing, and dancing, but most of all, she enjoyed being with her family and friends.  She was an excellent cook and baker.  Many will remember her special Christmas cookies, especially pangiallo, and her beautifully decorated cakes.  Christmas was her favorite holiday and she always made it extra special for everyone.

She had an art of unforgettable storytelling and somehow always managed to make you laugh. She was talented and creative in so many ways, such as floral designing, painting, and crocheting.  She could make anything she set her hands to, uniquely beautiful.

Mary Jane left an indelible footprint in our lives and in our hearts. Her laugh will forever ring in our ears. She was and will always be cherished by all and will be sorely missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 20th, at 11:30 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston. Her visiting hours and burial are private. Memorial donations may be made for The Anchor Recovery Community Center at The Providence Center, 528 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 or online at give.providencecenter.org