M. Therese (Larkin) Muscatello

M. Therese Larkin Muscatello 11/23/1929 to 08/23/2022.   
With humble acceptance of God’s will, we announce that our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother has left us to be with our heavenly family.  In her own words, “The angels carried M. Therese into the arms of her beloved babe, Frank J., and now they are together forever”.  Their journey and marriage partnership began on July 15, 1950.  Our mother and father were in Sam and Lucille Cucci’s wedding in the late 1940’s.  Our mother asked to switch groomsman so that she could meet my father.  That switch led to a romantic marriage of sixty-two years! M. Therese passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 23, at 1:10 PM at the home of her sons Thomas and Joseph.   She saw all of her children from California, Florida, Maryland and NY for two weeks prior to her passing.   Oh, how she enjoyed the laughter and strolls down memory lane with each of them. She was predeceased by Frank J. in 2012, her parents James J. and Mary (Shannon) Larkin, brother James (Theresa Lawlor, best school pal), her mother’s dear cousins, Anna Dunleavy Owens and Mary Gorman, sons-in-law Matty Williams and Ross Bryan, nieces Mary Kay Palmer, Elisa Incitti and Maria Elisa Muscatello, nephews James Muscatello, James J. Larkin, James Yanowiak, Nicholas Thomas Rotondi, and the family gem, Egon Brandel. She loved her in-laws, Camillo and Elisa Muscatello, and their wonderful children, all of whom are in Heaven:  Nellie, Mary and James D’Aiute, William and Elsa, Alana and Jim Yanowiak, Alice and Bob Rabert,  Anne and Derwood Mason, Thomas and Mary, Connie and Mike Rotondi.  She treasured memories of family gatherings, whether in the backyard at her parents’ home on Bigelow St., under a pavilion, on the patio on Columbia Ave. or at “Ma’s” on Kenwood Ave. Survived by her children Mary and Steve, Kelly & Ron, Catherine, Elisa, Thomas, Joseph, Frank and Margaret, William “Chick” and Tawny, and former sons-in-law Jerry Minick & Kevin I. Mclaughlin. Also surviving, fifteen grandchildren:  Steve (Tina) Requa, Matthew Requa, Kevin (Gina) McLaughlin, Tara (Josh) Fischbeck, Heather Bryan, Matthew (Allie) Williams, Michael (Emily) Williams, Frank (Ginny), Natalie, Sofia and Olivia Muscatello, Lindsey, Megan, Billy (Brooklynne) and Tori Muscatello (Jocobe).  Twelve great-grandchildren who called her GG: Anthony, Frankie and Christian McLaughlin, Lexi and Maddie Requa, Gabby Fischbeck, twins Eli and Max Bryan, twins Mac and Beau Williams, MJ Williams, and Amina Stafford.  G-G # 13, Amina’s sister, will be born in a few months.  Also survived by her brother James’ three daughters, Ann Marie Larkin, Patricia Baker and Terry Reid, and numerous Mason, Muscatello, Rabert, Rotondi and Yanowiak nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.  Our mother never knew her grandparents, Thomas and Catherine (Liddane) Shannon, Kilrush, Ireland, and Thomas F. and Mary (Cary) Larkin of New York.  She had one uncle, Thomas, his wife Marion and her only cousin, Marion Frances Larkin Barber.  She had one aunt, musically talented Sister Mary Rose, (Marcella Irene Larkin), Georgetown Visitation Cloistered Convent, Wash., D.C.   Our mother always said that she was a blessed person who had a wonderful life.  She was doted upon by her parents who created a charmed life for her.  She was a miracle baby.  Her mother was in an automobile accident in 1929 before giving birth.   The attending physician was not hopeful in saving both lives.  God had other plans.  Our mom’s childhood joy was her Saint Bernard dog named Lady who pulled her around in hand-carved wagons during nice weather and in a handmade rickshaw during the winter season.   She appreciated the friendships with Joe Kocik, Betty, Beulah, Corinne, Doug, Evelyn, Lee, Julia, Lucille, Imogene, Esther and all the St. John’s and CCHS kids in and out of her home throughout the years.   She enjoyed a meal around the table with family and friends while talking, reminiscing, and laughing.  Our parents enjoyed the three decades they spent in Sunny Florida, their numerous stays in California, Maryland and Connecticut.  She was wisely generous, very loving and rather uncomplicated.  Her grandchildren will always remember the monthly checks from “Pops and Grama” that they received consistently throughout their university years. She “got her Irish up” when she learned of injustices in the world.   Afterall, she was the great-great niece of Michael Larkin, one of the three Manchester Martyrs.  She was educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at Saint Paul’s.   She liked The Young & The Restless, PBS, English Mysteries, Downton Abbey, Police and Medical Shows, The Midwife and Blue Bloods.  She was an avid reader who, in recent years, enjoyed Amish Christian novels.  She loved chocolate and disliked beets. Her favorite hobby was embroidery.  She had fond memories of her ‘once a year’ outing as a Democratic Election Poll Station Inspector in the 1970s.   She loathed racism, discrimination in any form, religious hypocrisy and corrupt politicians.  She was proud of her family’s military service predating the Civil War, and the service of her husband, father, brother, brothers-in-law, son-in-law Jerry, and nephew Derwood. She was involved in all aspects of our lives, for which we are truly grateful.   Honest and straightforward answers to all of our questions.  Great sense of humor.  Beautiful laugh.  White-haired beauty since after the birth of Chick, with gorgeous blue eyes above a radiant smile.  She tinted her hair green once with food-coloring for Saint Patrick’s Day which happily surprised us all.   Always pretty in pink, jewelry on, a pinch at both cheeks to make them rosy, and never without lipstick –  “I’m ready”!!!
She was prepared to enter Eternal Life with Our Lord, Our Blessed Mother, and the Communion of Saints.  She is reunited with the love of her life, our dear father Frank J., and with our loving Larkin and Muscatello family members.  Until we meet again, dear Mother, our love and daily prayers.  
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of her family. 
Arrangements have been entrusted to Jennifer Sullivan with Thomas J. Shea Funeral Home Inc.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in her memory to Loaves & Fish Food Pantry, mailing address at 7 Livingston St., Binghamton, NY 13903.  
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of M. Therese (Larkin) Muscatello, please visit our floral store.