Mary “May” Papasidero (née Achenza) passed away peacefully after a long, unwelcome battle with dementia. She was 87 years old.
May was born, raised and lived in Port Washington up until she moved into Memory Care in Georgia in 2010, where her son Jim Jr. and his family live.
Up until May’s dementia hindered her functioning, she led a very active social life. She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Peter of Alcantara RC Church. She was a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital for more than 26 years. She enjoyed a long-term friendship with people she attended school with in Port Washington, actively working on her High School Reunion Committee for many decades. For many years she lunched weekly with women she knew as far back as kindergarten.
May loved to dance and in her later years she line danced a couple of times per week for enjoyment. Before that, her main dancing partners for social events were her adored sister Terry Ressa and her cherished childhood friend, Lucy Salerno.
Lucy introduced May to her future husband, Jim Papasidero, another Port Washington native, when she was 12 years old. By age 16, May and Jim were a couple and remained so until his untimely death in 1996. May and Jim’s unwavering love for each other was an inspiration to all who knew them.
May was the loving mother of Pamela Meadows (the late Ron), Linda D’Elia (Frank), Nancy Johnson (Richard) and James Jr. (Kathy). Also survived by her adored grandsons, Christopher Meadows (Marianne), Matthew and Jeffrey D’Elia, Nicolas, Anthony and Robert Papasidero and Douglas, Timothy and Paul Johnson. She was the dear sister of the late Jay Trebing, Terry Ressa and Sal Achenza. May is also survived by her devoted sister-in-law Carmela Vlahos, her brother-in-law Joe Papasidero (Agnes) as well as dear aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and cherished friends.
May was known for her bright smile throughout her life. About a year ago, May lost that smile due to dementia. But on Nov. 15, 2015, May went on an amazing journey with a spiritual purpose and a joyful return to her true self. She rejoined her beloved husband, Jim, and all of her loved ones who have passed and no doubt her bright smile has returned.
