Mary Blandina Cerra, 96, of Carbondale, PA, died Sunday, February 2, 2025 at the Carbondale Nursing Center. She was the wife of the late August J. "Snooky" Cerra, who died on December 11, 1991.

Born April 6, 1928 in Carbondale, PA, she was daughter of the late Angelo and Sarah Baglio Blandina.

Mary was a 1945 graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale, and worked as a seamstress for over 25 years at Cindy Frocks, Carbondale. She was a member of Our Lady of Rosary Parish, Carbondale, and had been very active in the Carbondale community for many years.

Mary was part of a special group of women who attended high school together during the war years and remained close friends until their passing. This special group called themselves the Castlette's, named after the cottage at Newton Lake they would spend summers at as young ladies before they all married and started families. Over the years they would make time to get together for parties and trips. They celebrated the joys in their lives and supported each other through their trials and tribulations. This group included Nancy Brownell, Rose Cost, Ann Dottle, Velma Hornbeck, Wicky Moon Walker, Ruth Walsh Mussari, Rosemary Wallis, Peggy McDonald and Margaret Burke.

Mary will be fondly remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. She and her two sisters had an unbreakable bond and were always there for each other, a bond shaped after the untimely death of their father in a mining accident when they were children.

The family expresses special thanks to the nurses and staff of the Carbondale Nursing Center for their compassionate care of Mary.

She is survived by her daughter: Mary Lynn Cerra Brannon and husband, James of Carbondale, PA; a grandson: Kyle August Brannon of Washington, DC; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Mary was also preceded in death by two sisters: Carmella Talarico and Lucy Craparo.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 15 Fallbrook Street, Carbondale, PA. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Greenfield Township, PA.

Pallbearers: William Bellucci, Christopher Olson, Jed Sheckler, Andrew Cerra, Jeffrey Cerra and Charles Salerno.

Viewing was held Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Arrangements by Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Carbondale, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions were sent to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411