Lucia (Lucy) Santucci- Faiella/Martin

Lucia (Lucy) Santucci - Faiella/Martin of Ossining, NY, passed away on April 20, 2021, with her two loving and devoted daughters by her side. Born February 18, 1926 in Sassinoro, Italy to the late Domenico and Crescenza (Chiariotti) Santucci, Lucy bravely pioneered a new life for her family from the foothills of southern Italy to the United States.

Lucy’s lifelong journey to feed and aid others was born from humble and challenging beginnings. Growing up in rural Italy, like many, she worked the farm and helped her family with the daily operations. As a very young child, Lucy learned how to bake bread with her mother and would rise early in the morning to begin preparing food for the family, which sparked her love of cooking. During World War II, her father Domenico was captured and retained as a prisoner of war for eight years. As the eldest of six children and with little less than a third-grade education, Lucy therefore quickly adopted even more of a caregiving role to her younger siblings, as well as taking on additional household and farm responsibilities.

Although she loved her family and hometown, in her early twenties, Lucy relocated to Florence, Italy to apprentice as a chef; there, she expanded her hospitality knowledge-base and refined her skills in northern Italian cuisine. During this time, Lucy’s aunt who lived in America, Zia Tomasina, presented a photograph of the three Santucci sisters to family friend and American GI John Faiella. John took one look at the photo, pointed his finger at Lucy, and said, “I am going to marry her.” When they met in person, it was love at first sight and they married February 18, 1951 at Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie Church in Sassinoro, Italy. A short time later, Lucy immigrated to Ossining, New York, where the young couple expanded their family and raised their daughters, Clara Marie and Joanna. Although Lucy and John eventually decided to end their marriage, they continued to provide love and care to their children and families. In 1961, Lucy married her second husband, Augusto Martin. Along with Clara and Joanna, the Martins spent a brief time in France and Italy before returning to the United States.

Always remembering her roots and desiring to help others, and in true matriarch and pioneer fashion, Lucy welcomed and supported many family members (and even friends of family) to legally immigrate to the United States. Her appetite and passion to help others to fulfill their dreams was seemingly insatiable; she provided housing and food, and even co-signed loans so that others could live the American dream like her.

As a skilled cook, Lucy quickly found work in a few local restaurants as an executive chef; in doing so, she was able to learn about and add several other cuisine styles into her growing repertoire of culinary expertise. It was not long before she realized her own dream of owning and operating an establishment of her own. In 1962, she opened her first restaurant “Lucy’s” in Ossining and brought her love of Italian food and culture to the people of New York. After five successful years, she expanded her business and relocated to a larger space with a full dining room and pizzeria in Yorktown Heights. As a staple of the Yorktown community, the next 20+ years were filled with countless meals, memories, and opportunities for so many. To this day, customers and staff from both locations fondly recall Lucy’s iconic smile, warm hospitality, and culinary magic. In short, Lucy made everyone feel welcome at her table; she deeply valued family and being together, and she understood life at its core. As she did with her siblings from a young age, Lucy was truly a mother to all. Many people still reminisce about how she always made sure their bellies were full, would always lend a listening ear, and could provide words of wisdom when needed most. She loved to see everyone eating…and if she noticed (and she always did) that you were not, she would ask “Why aren't you eating?”

Lucy is predeceased by her husbands John Francis Faiella and Augusto Martin, sister Maria and brother-in-law Vito Laviano, brother Modestino Santucci, brother Alfredo Santucci, and brother-in-law Enrico Fabbri

She is survived by her two daughters, Clara (Angelo) Fabbri and Joanna (Roberto) Fabbri, four grandchildren, Angela (Anthony) Perricone, Enrico (Lesly) Fabbri, Paolo (Nicole) Fabbri, and Michele Fabbri, six great-grandchildren,  Anthony Jr., Dominic, and Jenna Perricone, Milania and Giove Fabbri, and Paolo Fabbri Jr., as well as sister Amelia Fabbri, brother Ettore (Pina) Santucci, and sisters-in-law Berta Santucci and Teresa Santucci. Lucy also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Waterbury & Kelly, 1300 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510.

Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 11:30a.m. at St. Augustine’s Church, 381 N Highland Ave, Ossining, NY 10562. Interment to follow at St. Augustine Cemetery, Ossining, NY.

In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to:

Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp. (OVAC)

P.O. Box 523, Ossining, NY 10562

WATERBURY & KELLY FUNERAL HOME

1300 Pleasantville Road

Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510

914-941-0838

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