Seraphina Marie Curcuru

Seraphina Marie Curcuru nee Leone transitioned to the Kingdom of Heaven surrounded by her children on August 17, 2026. Daughter of Vito and Provvidenza Leone of Palermo Italy. Wife of Fillippo Curcuru. Sister of Frank (Mary), Joseph (Betty), Frances (Pete) Vitale. Mother of: Dr. Grace Curcuru, Nicola (Renee Alevato), Provvidenza (Jason) Ayers, Serafina (Douglas) Lewan, Vito and Phyllis (Josh) Clutter Grandmother of Dino, Catarina Seraphina, Elaina, Sophia, Mark Phillip, Vincenzo, Sarah Jeanette, Hunter and Jagger Aunt to many Nephews, Nieces and Grandnephews/nieces Born in Detroit and graduate of Guardian Angels Elementary (skipped a couple of grades due to her high intelligence), Dominican High School and Marygrove College. An elementary teacher for over 30 years at schools such as Guardian Angels and St. Brendan's. She found happiness and joy in her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed a festive seasonal decorated home, gardening, cooking elaborate traditional Italian meals and carrying on traditions generation to generation. She enjoyed needlepoint, decoupage, crocheting, big band music, roses and Life! Always a story to share and a smile to see, a hug to give, she enjoyed Life! A mother who gave love and support to her children and grandchildren who loved an elaborately decorated seasonal home and loved to give festive holiday dinners all year long. Each month dedicated to a holiday- the decorations, tablescapes, and menu all thoughtfully planned and executed to perfections. There was never too much over the top was the normal. The delicious Italian charcutier trays, the cheese, olives, salami, capicola, shrimp, sushi (Dino) were always carefully prepared. The Lasagna, the homemade pasta noodles, the garden sauce made from homegrown tomatoes, basil and garlic. The eggplant parmesan, the breaded steaks with homemade bread crumbs, the chicken soup all mouthwatering. The kids would ask how do you make such delicious pasta sauce: and mom would answer, with "you get a shovel and start planting the tomatoes, basil and garlic and go from there!". The desserts: the crème puffs, cannoli's, spinghi (rice and egg), pingalata, cassata cake, "S" cookies, pizzeles, cuchidatis and hundreds of dozens of Christmas cookies. Everyone's favorite: Gingerbread (Sera), Rum Balls (Prov), Apricot Turnovers (Grace) and everyone's favorite the "S" cookies. Those delicate "S" cookies with a thick coat of power sugar glaze and festive colored sprinkles appropriate for the holiday were always a crowd pleaser. Life was good when those treats came out, Lots of smiles! She was a city girl who converted to a country girl when she made the move to New Baltimore. Septic tanks, bottled gas, well water and farming it was a whole new world she adopted fast and handled it well. The bushels of garden grown tomatoes she grew that needed to be canned in the heat of the summer. The thousands of apples she peeled from her own trees for applesauce, cider and apple pies. The stuffed peppers and cabbage were always a sure sign of autumn When mom brought out the metal "sculla basta" (colander) you knew she was up to something delicious as she peeled and sliced away. The kitchen always smelled good! She loved her children and was proud they all went to college whether a Wolverine or a Spartan or a Trojan, she was proud. She faithfully flew the Michigan and the MSU flags on game days. She knew the scores of the game at all times. Even when we were out on the tractor cutting the backyard, she would hold up a sign with the current score, so we would be abreast as to the situation at all times. She had the spirit, she wore the school colors. She attended all of her elementary and high school class reunions, and loved to reminisce about the "good old days". She cared for her mother and husband in their waning years and still managed to do all the laundry for her five children at U of M and cook enough food on the weekends to bring up to college to feed the 5 children for a week. She was a saint. She juggled it all with grace never complaining always doing more and more and more. She was terrific Mother. You could always hear Big Band music blaring from the radio. She would say her and Frank (Frank Sinatra) had housework to do. The louder the music the faster she got her work done. Who knew there could be so much fun in dusting, washing and ironing! When the grandchildren came she was in second heaven. Playing with them, hearing the stories they had to tell her put a smile and a pep in her step. She was proud of each and everyone of them and hopes that they all carry on the traditions they saw and experienced. The food the stories, the memories are very important. It is the grandchildren’s responsibility to carry on the traditions, food, and stories of their family and enjoy life as much as she did. Seraphina Marie Curcuru is a truly a person that enjoyed Life, remember her fondly. Visitation Friday from 3-9pm with 7pm Rosary and funeral service Saturday 10am at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, inc., 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 mile). Interment Mt. Olivet. Consider a donation to St. Jude Children's research hospital in the name of Seraphina Curcuru. Please share memories with the family at their online guestbook @ WujekCalcaterra.com

Seraphina Marie Curcuru

April 8, 1937 - August 17, 2026