Clara Macri

Clara A. (LaValle) Macri, 94, passed away Thursday, February 16^th after a brief illness. She was the longest lived of seven children of Anthony and Frances LaValle, growing up on the West End of Syracuse.  After high school she worked as a technical secretary in California for the NACA, the precursor to NASA, typing many of the papers which would launch the U.S. Space Program.  She returned to Syracuse working as a technical typist for Syracuse University Chemistry department where she eventually retired.

She married her husband Nicholas Macri and raised her two children in a traditional Italian household. She loved cooking and baking, especially Christmas cookies and could not pass by a casino without opening her wallet. In retirement she doted on her four granddaughters, unfortunately teaching them some very naughty words along the way. They all called her Noni, and eventually anyone who met her called her the same. She was pre-deceased by her husband and her brothers and sisters, and has a very large family of nieces and nephews who she cherished.  Holidays were always a large celebration and she could still dance a jitterbug into her 80’s.  She lived to see her three great-grandsons being born and always wanted to hold them and play with them, singing them Dominic The Donkey.

She is survived by her children James (Diane) Macri, Mary (Christopher) Smith, granddaughters Emily (Anthony) Irvine, Amanda (Andrew) Dawson,  Dr. Abigail Smith DMD, Dr. Meghan (Steven Lounsbury) Macri PT/DPT, her three great-grandsons Greyson Irvine, Declan Dawson and Colton Irvine.  She is survived by special nieces Toni-Jo Wise, Anne Jakowenko, Donna Demma, Linda Sorrendino, Frances Duggan, Melissa Hollingsworth, and special nephew Mark Williams and his wife Pam. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Cross Church, E. Genesee Street, Dewitt Friday February 24^th at 12:00 Noon. Burial to follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. There are no calling hours in keeping with her wishes. 

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to JDRF or Holy Cross Church in her memory.