Carmela Emanuella Santucci (nee Ranauro) passed away peacefully Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Brightview Westminster Ridge, Westminster, Maryland, her loving and caring home for most of the past 10 years. Born on December 13, 1919 in Hudson, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Armando and Angelina Ranauro. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 58 years, Anthony E. Santucci who died July 14, 1999, her brother Joseph Ranauro who was killed over France in WWII, and son-in-law Stanley Dent.

Mel graduated as a nurse from Wilkes Barre General Hospital, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania in 1941. Married in 1944, Mel and Tony moved to Port Washington, Long Island where she worked at St. Francis Cardiac Hospital. In 1962 the family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania where Mel did a short stint at the old Hershey Chocolate Factory. She was a premier cook of traditional Italian dishes. Sewing was one of her passions. In later years, Mel & Tony were members of Capital City Polka Dancers (Harrisburg) and Hershey Line Dancers. They taught Line Dancing together for many years, both in Pennsylvania and in Florida where they spent winters.

Mel is survived by daughters JoAnne Kreider and husband David of Westminster, Laura Dent of Callao, Virginia and granddaughters Carrie Anne Buttrey and husband Billy of Urbana, Md., Kate Davenport and husband Roger of Hampstead, Md., Sara Freeman and husband Brant of Virginia and Lianne Dent and fiancé Chris Mash of Nashville, Tenn.

“Nana Tucci” will be sadly missed by great-grandchildren Natalie and Anthony Davenport, Tori, Billy, Avery and Levi Buttrey and Graeme Freeman.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 2, 2016 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Visitation will begin at 10:00am followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00am. Burial will be in the Hershey Cemetery.   

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mel’s memory may be sent to Carroll Hospice.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Westminster, MD. 

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