Mary Antoinette (Tarquinio)  Chestnutt

Mary Antoinette (Tarquinio) Chestnutt, 84, of Stowe Township, passed away in her home on Nov. 16, 2023.

She was born May 31, 1939, the daughter of the late Elmer and Hilda (Celedonia) Tarquinio.

She graduated from both Stowe High School and Robert Morris School of Business, where she attended secretarial classes in the William Penn Hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. 

Mary put faith and family at the forefront of her life. She was a member of the Ladies of Charity at St. John of God, distributing ashes and holiday flowers to homebound parishioners. She also volunteered in the parish pizza kitchen for many years.

On June 18,1960, she married Kenneth Ewing Chestnutt, who died in 1993. They had four children, the late Steven Andrew Chestnutt, Paul Chestnutt of Pensacola, Fla., Mary Ann (Scott) Jones of Stowe Township, and Judy (Joe) Smydo of Mt. Lebanon.

As her children were growing up, Mary was active with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Little League as well as the football boosters and band boosters. After her husband died, she led the family with grace and strength.

Mary passed down the Italian traditions of her grandparents, who came to the United States from Villetta Barrea, Italy. She cooked a spaghetti dinner every Sunday after Mass for decades, and she was an excellent baker who enjoyed giving friends and family trays of homemade cookies, including her Italian filled pizzelles, for the holidays.

She was also an avid reader, seamstress and crocheter, but most enjoyed the company of others. Known for her kind heart and generous spirit, Mary served on the board of Focus On Renewal (FOR) in McKees Rocks and volunteered for the Sto-Ken-Rox Meals on Wheels.

Besides three of her children, she is survived by her beloved sister, Clo Savage of Canonsburg, and 10 grandchildren, including three sets of twins: Corey (Stacey) Chestnutt of Twinsburg, Ohio, and Stephanie Chestnutt of Fremont, Ohio; Kristy (Tyler Ake) Chestnutt of Norton, Ohio; Matthew Chestnutt of Pensacola; Isaac and Jordan Jones of Stowe Township; and Zoey Chestnutt, Mallory Chestnutt, and Franco and Rocco Chestnutt of Columbus, Ohio.

Also surviving are three great-grandchildren, Lawson, Mila and Arizona Chestnutt; many nieces and nephews, including John, Michele, Jimmy, and Dan Savage; and several godchildren. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, at Anthony M. Musmanno Funeral Home, 941 McCoy Road, Kennedy Township. A Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, at St. Mary Church/Archangel Gabriel Parish, 1011 Church Ave., McKees Rocks, followed by interment in Calvary Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum, 718 Hazelwood Ave., Pittsburgh.

Memorial contributions may be made to Focus On Renewal.