Southington Mourning Loss Of Arts Icon Mary DeCroce

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington on Wednesday was mourning the loss of a giant in the local arts scene.

Mary DeCroce, 68, died peacefully in her home on Sunday, surrounded by her loved ones. According to her obituary posted on the Della Vecchia Funeral Home website, she succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which she fought six different times for more than three decades.

DeCroce attended Art Institute of Boston and participated in many other art programs, workshops, and classes over the course of her career. In 1990, she produced and sold her own line of hand-painted children’s clothing, a business that evolved into decorative painting inside homes and businesses.

She was also an art teacher at the Southington-Cheshire YMCA and St. Dominic Elementary School.

DeCroce began was known for her 17 large-scale public mural displays.

From 2007 through 2009, she co-chaired the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event and ultimately helped raise more than $1 million for the organization. She also created and coordinated the annual Harvest the Arts Festival at the Southington Apple Harvest Festival.

In 2011, DeCroce spearheaded efforts to raise more than $1.2 million to renovate the historic Gura Building into a community arts center — Southington Community Cultural Arts — which opened in 2016. She also launched the SoCCA All Access program that provides creative skills training to improve the quality of life for intellectually disabled adults. More than 50 participants currently take part in the program and sell their creations wares at SoCCA.

DeCroce received numerous awards and acknowledgements for her commitment to the arts, including the Southington YMCA's Unsung Hero Award, Main Street Community Foundation Leading Lady Award, and the Southington Chamber of Commerce Gail DePaolo Community Spirit Award. She was also selected as the Grand Marshal of Southington’s Apple Harvest Festival Parade in 2013.

Other affiliations include her four-year term on the state’s Department of Economic Community Development Arts Council, a three-year term as a Hartford Art School board member, and service to Southington Arts and Crafts Association and the Southington Art Council.

Calling hours will be at the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St., Southington, on Saturday, from 3 to 7 p.m. Masks will be required.

A memorial service has been scheduled for the First Congregational Church, 37 Main St., Southington on Sunday at 2 p.m. Immediately following the service, a celebration of life reception will take place at SoCCA. Attendees of both the church service and Celebration of Life reception are asked to dress in colorful attire, per DeCroce's wishes.