07/15/2022
Felicia (Puglia) Persico was born November 2, 1927, a loving daughter of immigrants from Piscotta, Italy, the late Remo and Carmella (Martuscello) Puglia.
Felicia graduated from Wilbur H. Lynch High School in 1945 and then attended Spencer’s Business Institute. She began her military career in 1958 and served in the Army until 1961 at Fort McClellan in Alabama; Fort Dix in New Jersey and at Orleans and Poitiers in France. She was a Master Sgt. on Reserve Duty with the 429th Medical Service Flight at Stewart Air Force Base near Newburgh. She was also in the 109th Air Guard in Schenectady, NY. She retired as Master Sgt. on November 2, 1987. She was employed as a receptionist with the Internal Revenue Service in Albany.
She was united in matrimony to Dan (Donato) Perscio on December 8, 1973 in a winter wonderland wedding. Dan was a survivor of the sinking of the USS Squalus submarine in 1939. Dan and Felicia enjoyed attending many reunions of Squalus survivors traveling throughout the United States. In 1978, Felicia and Dan founded Carfel Company (construction company) in Amsterdam. She was an integral part of the business. She was predeceased by her husband Dan on January 26, 2001.
Felicia volunteered as treasurer for the Amsterdam South Side Veteran Association. She was also a member of St. Joseph/St.Michael/Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Amsterdam.
She enjoyed spending time with her siblings and took a wonderful trip to Italy where she was able to visit her mother’s home town, Piscotta. She was a very generous and fun aunt to be around. Her nieces and nephews enjoyed pajama parties and movie nights, trips to the Fonda Fair and dinners out at their favorite restaurants. There was always a big smile, hugs and kisses with a loving greeting spoken in Italian.
She leaves behind many special people in her life. She was an extra special aunt to Joseph (Loretta) Giardino; and a great aunt/like grandmother to Joseph Giardino (Heather Reynicke) and his daughter Isabella; Jenelle (Michael) DiMezza and their children Enzo and Viviana, and Andrea (Larry) Fort. She is survived by her brother Frank (Kathy) Puglia. She also leaves behind nephews Remo (Shelly) Puglia, Martin (Bernadette) Skotarczak, Steven (Sue) and John (Joyce) Plisinski, Ronald (Beth) VanSkiver, nieces, Sandra Puglia, Geraldine (Keith) Schedlbauer, SueAnn (Noel) Wing, Dorothy (Mike) LaPorta, Patricia VanSkiver and Tracy (Shawn) Paradise. She also had several grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews. Felicia also had a special friend, Clifton Vickers.
Felicia was predeceased by her parents, husband, sisters, Rose Giardino, Mary Skotarczak, Giovanna Plisinski, Antonia VanSkiver and brother Carmen Puglia.
A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM at the Amsterdam Funeral Chapel, 13 Belmont Pl. Amsterdam, NY. A visitation will be at 9:00 AM until the service, and burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Amsterdam. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Felicia’s memory to: Montgomery County Office for the Aging Meal Program, 135 Guy Park Ave. Amsterdam, NY.
Aunt Felicia (Phil) will be missed by all her family, but will finally be able to reunite with her husband and family in eternal peace.
