SHERBURNE – Anastasia Mae (Smith) Tomaselli, 82, of Sherburne, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 12, 2007 at the New York State Veterans’ Home, Oxford.
Born Nov. 30, 1924 in Middleville, Anastasia was the youngest of the seven children of Stasia (Sierocki) and Joseph (Kwiatkowski) Smith. Known to her many friends as Stacey, and to her thousands of students as “Mrs. T.,” she was a graduate of the Middleville High School and SUNY Cortland, then known as “Cortland Teacher’s College.”
Stacey did her student teaching in the Sherburne School system. Returning to the area, she taught physical education and health for the Earlville, Norwich and Stockbridge Valley school systems, retiring in 1984. Mrs. T enjoyed working with children and especially loved coaching many very successful sports teams, including field hockey, softball, volleyball, basketball, and cheerleading. Mrs. T. will be remembered by the many students whose lives she touched in a very special way.
On Sept. 11, 1949, Stacey married Donald P. Tomaselli of Sherburne. Stacey is survived by three sons and their spouses: Tim and Joyce Tomaselli, Salt Point, Chris and Joan Tomaselli, Sherburne and Mike and Tracy Tomaselli, also of Sherburne; three grandchildren, Wesley and Travis Tomaselli and Kelley Lindroth of Sherburne along with several nieces and nephews.
Stacey is predeceased by her husband Don; brothers Stanley, Edward and Anthony Smith, and sisters Sophie VanAntwerp, Genevieve Parker, and Helen Harrad.
Stacey was one who enjoyed life to the fullest. She was an avid swimmer, an expert pie baker and a friend to animals. She particularly doted on her grandchildren.
Stacey’s quality of life in her final years was greatly enriched by the outstanding Veteran’s Home staff. The family wishes to express a very special thank you to Leeann Hagen for her friendship and the expert care she so lovingly provided Stacey for the past four years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. from St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church, Sherburne. Interment will be in the spring in St. Malachy’s Parish Cemetery. Friends are invited and may call Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne. The rosary will be recited at 4:45 p.m. at the funeral home.
In memory of Stacey Tomaselli, kindly consider contributions to the Sherburne Emergency Squad (Make checks payable to: “Sherburne Emergency Squad” and mail to: Sherburne Emergency Squad, Sherburne, NY 13460), or the Norwich SPCA, 6160 Co. Rd. 32, Norwich, NY 13815.