Mary Straccioni Esposito

Mary S. Esposito, age 88, took off on her joyful journey to rejoin her beloved husband, Mario F. Esposito, at high noon on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - exactly 22 years to the day after he departed at the age of 68 on October 12, 2000.
Mary was predeceased by her father, Dino F. Straccioni; mother, Catherine F. Straccioni; and, most recently, her twin sister Angela S. Perrin, who left to join her husband, Cecil E. Perrin, on July 29, 2022. Angela and Mary, co-head cheerleaders in the glory days of mid-century Hopewell High School, had the distinction of being twins born on different days: Angela, a Scorpio, was born a few minutes before midnight on November 21, 1933, while Mary, a Sagittarius, followed a few minutes after midnight on November 22.
Mary is survived by her two devoted younger sisters, Hilda R. Straccioni and Michelle L. Straccioni. She is held in loving memory by her son, Mark M. Esposito (Suzanne Daley Esposito); and grandsons, Mark F. Esposito (Brittany Simmonds Esposito) and David A. Esposito. Among Mark's most cherished memories of his mother are the big spaghetti dinners she would whip up for his entire high school football team. Seeing Mary off on her journey was her devoted daughter, Autumn E. Bedwell Henschel (Piers Henschel), who was and always will be Mary's "Baby Autumn." Her granddaughters, Mary K. Bedwell and Erika L. Bedwell Stephenson (Chase Stephenson), will always cherish the memory of their beloved "Amu."
After their graduation from Hopewell High School, Mary and Angela attended Richmond Polytechnic Institute or RPI, now known as VCU; both girls ultimately heard and heeded the call of the family businesses: Lakewood Supper Club (where Mary met Mario, stationed at Fort Lee during the Korean War) and Virginia Meat Market, where she could be found cutting meat, mentoring countless young apprentice meat cutters, and serving customers with a smile from behind the meat counter for over 50 years.
Of the four hard-working "Straccioni Girls," as they were called, Mary was known as the feisty, athletic, and artistic one with a heart of gold. She valued people for what they were, not for what they had. "I don't know much," she would say overmodestly, "but I know people." To those people who were lucky enough to know Mary, to know her was to love her. Her children and grandchildren will be forever grateful for the love, stability, joy, and wisdom - and countless Sunday dinners - that Mary brought into their lives.
A graveside service will take place on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 11:00 am at Appomattox Cemetery. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .