Marie Passenant

Obituary of Marie J Passenant

Marie Passenant, 83, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away December 13, 2022. Born June 12, 1939, in Astoria, New York, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Antoinette Cassaro.

Marie is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Charles; her sister, Rose Degennaro and her husband Charles; her sons, Frederick, and his wife Sheila, and Joseph, and his wife Stephanie; her grandchildren, Claire, Jennifer, Craig, Derek, Thomas, Nicole, and Christopher; and Jennifer, Nicole, and Christopher’s mother, Janice; her great-grandchildren Aidan, Antonia, Sofia, Joseph and Joseph; and her nephews and nieces Chez Degennaro, Joseph Degennaro, Richard Schulz, Tammy Lewis and Mandy Schulz Mazz.

Marie grew up in Astoria. She and Charlie met while students at Bryant High School and married on September 12, 1959. She raised her beloved sons in Staten Island with her soulmate, Charlie, surrounded by a community of lifelong friends. A professional secretary for most of her career, she retired as an Office Manager for TM Capital.

A proud and loving matriarch, Marie was passionate about her family and took great joy in celebrating their achievements large and small. She was everyone’s favorite cook at the holiday gatherings she and Charlie hosted, and even the pickiest grandchild was sure to obey when she would encourage everyone to “Mangia!” after grace. In retirement, Marie enjoyed hobbies like mah-jong and reading, but her favorite pastime was keeping in touch with her growing generations of Passenants. Most of her and Charlie’s retirement years were spent at the Renaissance community in Manchester, New Jersey surrounded by many cherished friends. They moved to Charlotte, NC in 2019 to be closer to family.

Marie will be missed, and her legacy of deep love and commitment to her family and friends will live on in all of us who were privileged to fall in those categories.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Marie’s life will be held on Friday March 3 in the Chapel at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC at 11:00 am. All those who wish to join her family celebrate her life are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or your local Ronald McDonald House. Online condolences may be made via the tribute wall provided.

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