Obituary of Rocco J. Vacca

Rocco J. Vacca, age72, of Turin Road, passed away September 15, 2009, St. Luke's Hospital, with his loving family at his side. He was born September 8, 1937, in Rome, a son of Ralph and Maria Oppito Vacca, and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1955, and the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1959. Rocco was united in marriage to the former Mary Ellen Santalucy, on July 3, 1965, at St. Agnes Church in Utica. He was a music teacher in the Rome City School District and taught at Staley Jr. High School and Rome Free Academy; retiring after 33 years of teaching. He served as President and accompanist of the Crane Chorus. He was a member of St. Paul's Church and a former member of the Rome Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and Rome Choral Society. Rocco is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ellen; a daughter and son in law, Beth and Gary Luvera of Whitesboro; a son and daughter in law, Mark and Barbara Vacca of Rome; two sisters and a brother in law, and a brother and sister in law, Antoinette Tuzzolino of Rome, William and Stella Vacca of Rome, and Anne and Sam Marafioti of N. Fort Myers, FL; four grandchildren, Joshua and Jacob Luvera of Whitesboro and Maria and Ellen Vacca of Rome; and several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Palma Palazzo. He was predeceased by a brother, Michael Vacca. Funeral services will be held Friday at 10:30 AM from the Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut Street, and at 11:00 AM at St. Paul's Church. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home, Thursday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vacca Family Music Scholarship Fund, C/O First Niagara Bank, 2 Franklin Avenue, Clinton, NY 13323.