Obituary of Cleonice LoSecco

Cleonice Manzi Lo Secco was born in 1926 in the small Abruzzo mountain village
of Rapino high above the Adriatic sea.  She was brought to New York by her
parents as a baby.

She thrived in New York benefiting from the city's abundant educational
opportunities, first at P.S. 99 in Kew Gardens, Queens.  Her talent and drive
took her through Hunter College High School, Hunter College and eventually
Teacher's College at Columbia University.

In 1948 she married Anthony Lo Secco.  They had three children.

She started her career as an elementary school teacher but with further
education rose through the ranks, first as a guidance counselor and then as an
assistant principal.  In 1974 she was appointed principal at P.S. 89 in
Elmhurst, Queens.  P.S. 89 was an inner city school largely populated by
immigrant children.  She could easily identify with their family's needs and
goals.  She realized how to get the most out of this multicultural opportunity
making each different ethnicity feel not only welcome but as an integral part
of the enterprise.  She insisted that they share their diverse cultures with

the entire school community.

Her husband passed away in 1995.
Mrs. Lo Secco retired in 2003 after 50 years with the Board of Education.
In 2011 she relocated to Delray Beach, Florida.

She passed away on June 2, 2018 after a brief illness.

She is survived by her three children:
Anthony Lo Secco and Patricia, John Lo Secco and Cheryl, Virginia Rolling
and Gerard and eight grandchildren: Anthony Lo Secco, Rachel Lo Secco,
Jeannne Rolling, Anne Rolling, Anna Lo Secco, Andrew Lo Secco, Claire Rolling
and Daniel Lo Secco

Visiting hours will be Saturday, June 9 from 2-5 / 7-9 and Sunday, June 10 from 2-5 / 7-9 at Fox Funeral Home, Inc., 98-07 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills, NY.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 9:30 am on Monday, June 11 at Our Lady Queen Of Martyrs Church, 110-06 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY. Burial will be in Mount Saint Mary, Flushing on Monday, June 11 at 11:15 am.

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