Attending the party from out of town were Volpe’s granddaughter Stephanie and her husband Lee Smith, along with great-granddaughter Sela from Belgium, Charles and Kathy Malta from Wooster, Ohio, and Michael and Steven Volpe from Buffalo.

Volpe was born October 16, 1924, to Anthony and Maria Argeri Conti in Jamestown. They had six children – Thomas, Josephine (Malta), Carmella (Allesi), James, Mary, and Sally (Hilton). Volpe is the only surviving sibling.

She attended Rogers Elementary School, Jefferson Junior High School and then graduated from Jamestown High School in 1943. After graduation, Mary worked at the local Sylvania plant.

Mary met her future husband when she went out with a group of friends to a favorite bar/restaurant for young people on West Eighth Street. That is where her friend Rose introduced her to her brother, Angelo Volpe. Angelo Volpe had just recently returned from his time in the Army where he was one of the soldiers who liberated the Dachau concentration camp in Germany. Mary and Angelo “Screech” Volpe were married on November 22, 1947, at St. James Roman Catholic Church. They eventually bought her parents’ home at 15 Hazzard St., where they spent most of their lives.

Mary Volpe is pictured during her 100th birthday party. Submitted photo

Angelo worked at Union National Furniture Company. Together they raised five sons: Peter (Marlene), Anthony (Jolanta) of Florida, Charles, Thomas (Lisa) and Angelo (Vicky). Peter and Charles passed away in 2021 and 2023. A baby daughter Esther went to heaven at 2 days old in 1950. After Mary’s youngest sister Sally died in 1964, Mary also helped to raise Sally’s young children Leanne and Wayne.

Mary was an active member of St. James Catholic Church and enjoyed baking for the St. Joseph’s Table every year. She was an excellent cook and baker and was renowned for her chocolate cookies, homemade ravioli, and stuffed artichokes. Mary enjoyed knitting, sewing and other crafts and going to the casino. As a couple, Mary and Angelo loved to dance. They were members of the Marco Polo Club, The Gaeta Club, The Italian American Club, and they often went dancing at the VFW and the American Legion.

Mary has four grandchildren, Michael Volpe and Steven Volpe of Buffalo, Stephanie (Lee) Smith of Belgium, and Gina Volpe of Jamestown. The joy of her life is her little great-granddaughter Sela Smith of Belgium.

Mary currently resides at Orchard Grove and loves it when her family and friends come to visit. Even though she struggles with her loss of vision and hearing, she still enjoys looking at Facebook on her iPad and knows everything that is going on in the family.

“I am still here to give a lecture!” she said.