Fulvia (Colucci) Passanese, 81, passed away peacefully at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Amherst, NY on Friday February 25, 2011 surrounded by her family. A lifelong resident of Niagara Falls and Lewiston, NY, she was the daughter of Vincenza (Balassone) Colucci of Niagara Falls, NY and the late Francesco "Frank" Colucci.

Fulvia attended local schools and graduated in 1948. On November 5, 1949 she married Charles L. Passanese, Sr. at St Joseph Church in Niagara Falls, NY. She and her husband recently moved to Forest Creek Apartments on the Weinberg Campus in Getzville, NY.

Fulvia was employed by the Niagara Falls Public Library from 1966 until her retirement in 1986 as principal library clerk. Fulvia was an avid reader and enjoyed playing Scrabble. She loved all types of music and was a longtime patron of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, gardening, and painting. Her greatest passion was cooking and baking for and with her family. Her true dedication in life was to be a devoted wife, and mother to her family. As illness later in life made activities more difficult, she found joy in each day. She especially cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She remained a strong, loving and positive inspiration to all who knew her.

In addition to her devoted husband of sixty-one years, Charles L. Passanese, Sr., Fulvia is survived by four children, Vinnie Passanese of East Amherst, NY, Charles L. (Rebecca) Passanese, Jr. of Boston, MA, Linda (Edward) Garcia of Grand Island, NY and Patricia Laures (Todd Phillips) of Niagara Falls, NY; nine beloved grandchildren, Jessica, Natale, John (Erin), Myles Passanese, Sara (Louis) Moretta, David Garcia, Jacqueline, Jake, and Samantha Laures; and three great-grandchildren, Giana, Dominic Moretta and Isabelle Zuccari. She is also survived by her 108 year old mother, Vincenza Balassone Colucci of Niagara Falls, NY; her two sisters Ann Colucci and Helen Colucci, both of Niagara Falls, NY and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, Francesco "Frank" Colucci and two brothers Ettore (late Gertrude) Colucci and Alfred (Katherine of Niagara Falls, NY) Colucci.

Visitation will be on Monday from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 PM at M.J. COLUCCI & SON NIAGARA FUNERAL CHAPEL, 2730 MILITARY RD. NIAGARA FALLS, NY where funeral services will begin on Tuesday March 1st at 11:15 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 Noon at Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish at St. Joseph Church, 1413 Pine Ave. Niagara Falls, NY. Entombment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd. Cheektowaga, NY 14227 or to the Multiple System Atrophy Research (MSA), Mayo Clinic-Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.