Charlene Mirabito

by Contributor | October 22, 2024 12:35 pm

FULTON – 1930-2024, Charlene Mirabito of Fulton passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, October 20, 2024, one week after her 94th birthday. She was a devoted communicant of Holy Trinity Church, and earlier in life, St. Michael’s Church. Charlene was fiercely independent and lived on her own until her passing. Even in her final days, she enjoyed gardening, practicing Polish with Duolingo, traveling to see her children, and exercising daily. She especially looked forward to weekly Zoom calls with her six children, engaging in lively debates on politics, social issues, and climate change.

Born and raised in Fulton, Charlene was the only child of Helen (Socha) and Walter Lysick, Polish immigrants whose heritage she proudly celebrated throughout her life. Just two weeks before her passing, she attended the Polish Home’s Polish Fest, reveling in polka music and kielbasa. She was a trailblazer. She graduated from St. Rose College with a degree in physics and a minor in math and became one of the first female engineers at New York Telephone in Albany, where she designed circuits. She often shared stories with her family about overcoming the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, always teaching resilience and strength.

Charlene returned to Fulton to marry her high school sweetheart, Francis Mirabito. Together, they built a strong family life with their six children on their family farm with its ponds and fields, a grape arbor, and an apple orchard. While her husband dedicated himself to the family supermarket business, Charlene created a home life marked by baking, pet cows and goats, stunning flower gardens, books, education, and athletics. She was a champion bridge player and enjoyed all kinds of games. She enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving feasts for 30, birthday parties, and family reunions. Above all, she sought to instill in her children a love of adventure and learning, to move past setbacks, and to celebrate accomplishments.

Charlene was proud to be a Fultonian. She served on the Albert Lindley Lee Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, was a founding member of the Historical Society, and dedicated her time to the Cracker Barrel Fair where she sewed countless items for fundraisers. Her adventurous spirit led she and her husband to travel the world, visiting her children in Alaska, Texas, California, Colorado and New Jersey, and cherishing trips to Poland, Israel and Switzerland. She also loved reading detective stories.

Charlene was predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years, Francis R. Mirabito in 2021.  She is survived by her six children, Ann Mirabito (Frank Snyder) of Fort Worth, TX, James Mirabito (Cindy) of Fulton, Susan Mirabito of Centennial, Colorado, Daniel Mirabito of Dillon, Colorado, Stephen Mirabito (Joyce) of Lafayette, California, Sara Mirabito (Riccardo Pieri) of Cesena, Italy, and her AFS exchange, Yvonne Ruesch of Switzerland. She is also survived by her fifteen grandchildren:  Vicki Kitts, Todd Ouimet, Michael Ouimet, Whitney Mirabito, Elena Mirabito, Morgan Marsh, Christian Mirabito, Neil Mirabito, Bennett Mirabito, John Snyder, Charlie Snyder, Madeline Gillet, Anthony Mirabito, Claire Gillet, and Olivia Mirabito, her beloved ten great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  Charlene leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and determination and all her children and their children will carry forward the values and love she instilled.

A Funeral Service will be conducted 10:00 AM Monday, October 28th at Holy Trinity Parish where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Joseph Scardella.  Burial will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fulton.  There will be no calling hours upholding Charlene’s wishes.  In her memory, we say, :  “Sto lat!” translation:  “May her spirit live on for a hundred years.”

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to the Friends of History in Fulton, N.Y., Inc. P.O. Box 157, 177 South First St., Fulton, NY 13069.

The arrangements are in the care of the Sugar Funeral Home Inc. 224 W. 2^nd St. S. Fulton

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/obituaries/funeral-homes/sugar-and-sugar-scanlon-funeral-homes/charlene-mirabito/

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