Mary A. Lucas

Mary Areale Lucas,93, of Southington passed from this life on Saturday April 14, 2012 after a stroke in 1999 left her disabled. Born in Meriden on December 2, 1918, she was the second youngest of 8 children to Italian immigrants, Fred and Josephine (Marcantonio) Areale. One sister, Julia Cannata of Meriden, survives and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Married for 52 years, Mary was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Lucas in 1989. Mary leaves one daughter, Joan Lucas-Fenn of Plantsville, 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Grandchildren are Kenneth Rossi, wife Michele and daughter of Naples, FL, David Rossi, wife Gayle and three sons of Southington, Mary Rossi of Meriden, Laura Barrow and two children of Scotland, CT and John C. Rossi, career Navy.

Mary worked for 32 years at New Departure-Hyatt division of GM Corporation in Meriden and Bristol. After an early retirement, Mary learned antique "buttoning" in the "Just Buttons" museum from Sally Luscomb who wrote The Big Book of Buttons. The Art Rich Studio bought and developed the original museum property.

In 1999, Mary had 2 near death experiences where she was taken up to the church-in-the clouds. She said the clouds were holy because God's presence was there. She spoke with her dead husband and to friends that had passed earlier. She saw a Holy Man in a white robe with a rope or sash around his waist with Greek lettering on the sash. He asked her if she had completed all that she was to complete on earth, and he showed her a living movie of her life that looked like a hologram. She returned to Earth or was sent back, she doesn't remember that part or why she came back to a badly handicapped body. Ecclesiastes (3:1-2...) "There is an appointed time for everything and a time for every affair under the heavens...a time to be born and a time to die..." For Mary, this was her time.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday April 17, 2012 at 10:30am at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held on Monday April 16, 2012 from 4-7pm at the funeral home. For online condolences and directions please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.

FUNERAL SERVICES

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday April 17, 2012 at 10:30am at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Burial will follow in St. Thomas Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held on Monday April 16, 2012 from 4-7pm at the funeral home.