Norma Composti

Norma Maria Composti died peacefully in her sleep on August 19, 2024. She was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1926, the youngest of Fortunato and Maria Zuchelli’s five children. She was the beautiful young bride of a World War II Navy man, the love of her life, Victor, and they enjoyed 66 years of a close and wonderful marriage before he passed in November of 2013. They lived most of their lives in Mineola, NY where they raised their four children and Norma worked as a High School Teacher Aide. Later in their lives they enjoyed almost 20 years in the Florida sunshine in Ocala, where they made wonderful friends. She moved to Ithaca in 2020 to be with her daughters.

Norma was an extraordinary Italian cook and made every family meal into an incredibly delicious feast, especially her elaborate holiday meals. She was an avid walker, a voracious reader, she loved to crochet, and she was a true prayer warrior. She was a very devoted Catholic who always attended Mass and prayed all of her prayers every day; her friends and loved ones have truly benefitted from her prayers over the years.

Norma was predeceased by her husband, Victor; brothers, George (Ramona) and Albert (May) Zuchelli; very dear sisters, Eleanor (Frank) Coppola and Annie (George) Coppola; nephew, Gerard Coppola; and niece, Kathryn Eisen. She is survived by her beloved children, Victor Sr. (JoAnn) Composti, Rod (Patrice) Composti, Lainie DeMartino and Diane (Michael) Schafer. Also surviving are her grandchildren, all of whom she truly adored: Denise O’Rourke (Chris), Jeanna (Eric) Sondag, Courtney Dimpel (Erin Duffy), Camisa (Biff) Talbot, Wyatt (Megan) Composti, Lou (Christina) DeMartino, Cheyenne Mitchell (Chase Wheeler), Luke (Molly) Schafer, John Schafer (Stefania DiMuro) and Michelle Schafer (Jack Prazich); and her great grandchildren, who brought her so much joy: Jack, Nick and Katie O’Rourke, Marco and Nate Sondag, Tinsley Talbot, Baby Composti to be, Carmelo and Matteo DeMartino and Freddy Schafer. She is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, John (Judy) Rogers, Fred (Reecie) Zuchelli, Tippy (Tom) Strumolo, Steve (Den) Strumolo, George (Jan) Coppola and Cynthia (Freddy) Holman; and by many, many great nieces and nephews who also held a special place in her heart.

The family will receive visitors at a luncheon on Friday, August 30, 2024, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in the Parish Center at All Saints Church, 347 Ridge Road, Lansing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., immediately following the luncheon, by Father Daniel T. McMullin at All Saints Church. For those who cannot be there in person it will be Live Streamed on Zoom, Meeting ID 295 634 8755 Passcode 596900

Interment will follow the Mass at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ithaca.

In lieu of flowers please consider contributions to The Portal de Belen Foundation (www.portaldebelenfoundation.org) which serves the poor of the Dominican Republic and is led by her close priest friend, Fr. Ron Gaesser, or to The Food Bank of the Southern Tier (www.foodbankst.org) because feeding people was near and dear to Norma’s heart, “Mangia!”

Norma wanted to tell everyone to always forgive, even when it’s hard, and to have faith, hope and charity.