Antonia Elizabeth "Toni" (Fiore) Turi

Mrs. Antonia Elizabeth (Fiore) “Toni”  Turi, 96, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, Saturday, January 18, 2025.

Toni was born in Utica, May 31, 1928, a daughter of the late Dominick and Giovanna (Bossone) Fiore. She was educated in local schools and a graduate of T.R. Proctor High School. She later attended MVCC, studying business. Toni was Pension Administrator at the UFCW Local One in Utica for over thirty years.

On February 3, 1951, at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church, Ben and Toni were joined in marriage. Ben and Toni shared a loving union for over seventy-one years. Her beloved “Turi” passed away on August 16, 2022.

Toni was the family Matriarch and devoted her life to her children, grandchildren, and extended family. Toni and Ben were everyone’s loudest cheerleaders and never missed any event in their lives, Francesca’s tennis matches; Bernie’s baseball games; Alexandra’s tennis matches and basketball games; and Allie’s soccer games.  

Her family’s accomplishments were her greatest joy, Bernadette T. Clark, Justice of the New York Supreme Court; Bernard J. Turi, Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Utica National Insurance Group; and Maryrose Behan, Manager of Human Resources at the United States Postal Service (Retired); her grandchildren, Francesca E. Romano, National Sales Manager, The Fountainhead Group; Bernard Joseph Turi, CEO of Nextane Energy and Head of Partnerships at Adele Hydrogen;  Alexandra J.L. Romano, Esq. Legal Counsel for The Fountainhead Group; and Alessandra E. Turi, Senior Architectural Designer at Downey, LLC.

Toni was a leader and pioneer in her position at the Pension Department UFCW Local One.  On many occasions when attorneys were stumped by ERISA’s complexities, they called on Toni for help. Toni loved her job and was devoted to helping working people preserve their futures.

In her younger years, Toni worked at Hursts Dress Shop, in downtown Utica, which sparked her lifelong “passion for fashion”. Toni had many friends that shared her love for travel, shopping, and cards. She was an avid Mahjong and bridge player. Sending special love to her sister Vicki, Joan Scalise, Mary Lourdes Petrone, and Karen Gilot, for their lifelong friendship with Toni.  Toni and Ben enjoyed Friday night dinners with numerous friends and date night at the movies. Toni was an amazing cook, from extravagant Sunday dinners for family and friends to afterschool snacks for her grandkids, all coveted Toni’s cooking—especially her fried meatballs.

She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Hon. Bernadette and Tom Clark, and Maryrose and Dan Behan; son, Bernard J. Turi, Esq.; her  adored grandchildren, Francesca E. Romano and August J. Groth IV, and Rhodes Romano Groth, Toni’s first and equally adored great-granddaughter, Bernard J. Turi, Alexandra J.L. Romano, Esq. and Marty DiPopolo, and Alessandra E. Turi and Dylan Stevenson; her beloved sister and best friend, Victoria Balzano; nieces and nephews, RoAnn Destito, Maurice and Janet Maggiolino, Maryrose and Ralph Lucarelli, Judianne and Richard Smith, Rosemary Morgan, Rosemarie and Jim Diana, and Dominic and Stephen Fiore; great nieces and great nephews, Christopher and Jennifer Destito, Maurice and Mandy Maggiolino, Jon Michael and Becky Maggiolino, Aimi and Mark Grysko, Lisa Lucarelli and Robert Mirando, Michael and Annaliese Lucarelli, Justin and Gretchen Smith, Matthew and Elizabeth Smith, Adrienne Smith and fiancé Kyle Levatino, Michael and Andrea Morgan, Mimi and John Randall, Frank and Carlaine Madia, and Tricia and Joseph Spina; and sister-in-law, Bonnie Uvanni. She was predeceased by her brothers, Michael Fiore and Salvatore Fiore; her sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary DeTraglia, and Madge and Walter Eddington; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Maurice and Rose Maggiolino, and Frank Maggiolino; brother-in-law, Frank “Hank” Balzano; and her nephews, Chris Destito and John Morgan.

The family would like to express their eternal gratitude to Dr. Fred Talarico, Dr. Nicholas Qandah, Dr. Doug Tardugno, Taylor Unser FNP-C, Pat Rosati, ANP, Parkway Drugs,  Luanne, Jess, Buddy, Lisa, Deb, Peg, Joanie Grande, and Joann Moskal at Hospice and Palliative services for their loving care of their mother. The family also extends their heartfelt thanks to John and Lu Latini, Toni’s kind and supportive neighbors and hairdressers; Jimmy and Dawn, her Saratoga, NY hairdressers; and the crew at West Side Stadium Cafe, Saratoga, NY, for her treasured Friday night outings.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 11:30 am at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church. Private interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In memory of Toni Turi, please consider donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis,TN 38105 or at stjude.org

Arrangements are with The Matt Funeral Home, Utica.

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