Mary Ann Baurkot (Riggio)

Mary Ann (also known as Sammy) was born in Alpha, NJ on August 8, 1931.

She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1949. She was working as an operator at Bell Telephone when she met the love of her life, Unis J. Baurkot, in the circle in downtown Easton.  Mary Ann also worked at Hess’s, which became Bon Ton, for so many years that she qualified for the lifetime employee discount, which she used prodigiously, even after she retired.

Like her mother Dina, she was an excellent cook and baker, hosting decades of holidays for family and friends and passing both her talents and cherished family recipes on to her children. Mary Ann also traveled extensively, seeing many European countries including Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Greece and Norway. She also traveled to Morocco and all around the United States. Mary Ann loved a good bingo game and her daily card games with her sister and partner in crime, Egle. She was a Mom and Nana who had infinite patience for her children, grandchildren and all their antics.

Mary Ann was predeceased by her parents John and Dina (Tarsi) Riggio, husband Unis J. Baurkot, siblings, Esilvio Rossetti, Ezio Rossetti, Daniel Rossetti, and Anne Leslie.

She is survived by her five children Suzanne Baurkot Simon of Palmer, Raymond J. Baurkot (Karen) of Palmer, John F. Baurkot (Beverly) of Forks, Margaret Baurkot-Celerier (Matthieu) of Coopersburg and Dina Baurkot Kennedy (Kory) of Allentown: grandchildren Jaclyn (BJ), John, Lisha (Marco), Joseph, David, Michael, Alexandré, Walker and Archer, brother Leo Rossetti of Tuckerton, NJ and Agnes aka Egle Pesaresi of Alpha, NJ.

Services will be private due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a celebration of Mary Ann’s life will be held at a future date when it is safe for everyone to be together.

Donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Mary Ann’s name.

The Finegan Funeral Home, Alpha, NJ, is handling her arrangements.