Mary C. Tilelli, family matriarch and long-time Holmdel resident, 97, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24 following a brief illness. Mary was predeceased by John Tilelli, her husband of 43 years, and Daniel Ravaschiere, her husband of 25 years, as well as 3 sisters, Margaret, Adele, and Louise, and one brother, Victor. Mary was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 13, 1917, but lived 65 years of her very full life in Holmdel, where she attended school and raised her family. She enjoyed a long, satisfying career in electronics manufacturing, where she made lifelong friends. Mary was a devout Catholic, and devoted much of her free time to the church as a parishioner of St. Catharine's in Holmdel. She chaired the early church fair committees and spaghetti dinners, doing most of the cooking herself. Mary served as President of the Rosary Altar Society, and also chaired the church census-taking group, as well as the church fashion show, and also hosted St. Catharine's card parties of nearly 200 people in her home. Most notably, and a source of great pride for Mary, she started the church choir with 3 friends, and sang in that choir for 50 years. Mary also loved cooking and baking, as well as traveling and dancing. She was an avid reader and master word puzzle solver. Most of all, Mary's favorite pastime was being with her children and grandchildren. Mary is survived by her 4 children, 2 sons, General John Tilelli and his wife Valerie of Alexandria, VA, and Richard Tilelli of Queens, NY, and 2 daughters, Mary Redfield of Holmdel, and Margaret and her husband Michael Kiley of Holmdel, a brother Paul Falcone and his wife Alice of West Long Branch. Mary leaves her lasting legacy with 11 cherished grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She also held a special place in her heart for her stepsons, Vincent and his wife Wendy Ravaschiere of Manhattan, and John and Nancy Ravaschiere of Vermont, along with their 3 children. Funeral services have been entrusted to Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel, with visitation on Friday, January 30 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. The funeral Mass will be at St. Catharine's Church, 108 – Middletown Road, Holmdel on Saturday, January 31 at 9:15 am, followed by a burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chapel Hill Road, Red Bank.