Moretti, Mary Serafina (nee Valenti)

After a valiant battle against kidney failure and heart disease, Mary Serafina Moretti passed away on Sept. 24, 2022 at the age of 90. Mary was born in St. Louis, Missouri in June,1932 but spent most of her first 21 years in Terrasini, Sicily, about 25 miles west of Palermo. Post WWII, she taught in elementary school, and in 1951 married the love of her life, Renato Moretti. Soon after, Mary and Renato started their family, having two children in Sicily before they immigrated back to St. Louis in 1954, where they had 4 more children. In pursuit of the American Dream, through hard work and perseverance, they achieved prosperity and a life dedicated to family.

One of the ways Mary expressed her love was through her cooking. Along with sewing and gardening, she had a passion and a gift for preparing Italian food. All 6 of the children, their spouses, 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren felt her love through food, many spending time with Mary, learning recipes and preparing their favorite dishes in Nonna's kitchen. Holidays were a feast. Through food, she brought her family together and kept them close all the way to the very end.

Mary (aka Mom, Nonna, Bisnonna), as the family's matriarch, watched over us with a determination to see each succeed and to foster the strong bonds that continue to this day. Family was everything to Mary. Even neighbors and friends called her "Mom", expanding her family even more. She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Renato, her parents Agata and Salvatore, brothers Joseph and Anthony, and son-in-law Gary Gruenewald. She is survived by her 6 children and their spouses: Ernie (Sue); Maria Moretti Gruenewald; Sal (Debbie); Tony (Jenny); Aggie Schmidt (Jeff); Ron (Theresa); 13 grandchildren (Talia, Antonia, Sal, Ernie, Louis, Rachel, Amy, Joseph, Michael, Reno, Anthony, Jacob and Ava); and 8 great grandchildren (Cruz, Gia, Garrett, Gavin, Lydia, Natalie, Joseph, and Lane), all of whom she adored. She was a beloved Zia Mary to her many nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be at Ortmann-Stipanovich at 12444 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur from 4pm-8pm on Sunday,10/2, with a funeral mass at Incarnate Wood at 10am on Monday, 10/3, followed by interment at Bellerive Cemetery.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home      osfuneralhomes.com