Frances M. Spalvieri 1942-2025

Cookie was born July 17, 1942, in New Castle, Pa., the daughter of Anthony Francis and Jennie Kusnierz Monstwil. She was a 1959 graduate of Union High School in New Castle. Cookie started working at the age of 14 as a waitress at her Aunt Valeria’s New Castle establishment, C and V Snackbar. Her next job was as a secretary for the Blind Association, which she served for 10 years. The remainder of her life was spent lovingly serving as a caregiver for her family. She took extra-special care of her mother, husband, children, grandchildren and many more.

Cookie was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Mineral Ridge, as well as a member of The Catholic Order of Foresters.

Cookie enthusiastically enjoyed watching, listening to and attending, ALL sports, especially her beloved Pittsburgh Pirates, Penguins and Steelers. She cheered for dozens of other athletes, teams and Olympians.

Cookie loved bringing her family and close friends together for joyous celebrations complete with wonderful food, fun, games and lots of laughs. She was a great cook and regularly enjoyed making food for her large family, going all-out for every holiday. Some of her specialties included homemade pierogis, golumpki (stuffed cabbage), pasta and meatballs, and authentic pepper steak. She was especially famous for her namesake, cookies, which she made prolifically for every wedding and holiday!

Cookie married her loving husband, Anthony F. “Red” Spalvieri, on Sept. 7, 1968. Tony and Cookie raised a large, warm, loving family together, until after 50 years of devoted marriage, he passed away on Dec. 5, 2018.

Cookie will be deeply missed by her five children, twin daughters Jennifer Spalvieri Hennessey of Strongsville and Jeannine Spalvieri Parks, and her husband, Denny of Copley; Anthony F. Spalvieri Jr., and his wife, Pamela of Seven Fields, Pa.; Merrilyn Spalvieri Abucejo, and her husband, Jonathan of Copley; and Michael Spalvieri, and his wife, Emily of Akron. Frances also leaves behind two sisters, Jane Fishovitz, and her husband, John of New Castle, Pa., and Mary “Mania” Oleson of Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.

Frances was a loving grandmother, known as “Nana” to her 14 adoring grandchildren, John, Michael and Nick Hennessey; Anna, Anthony, Abby and Andrew Spalvieri; Giovanna, Isabella and Joshua Abucejo; Brett DeNunzio and Rex DeNunzio Spalvieri; Robin Brunner and Marcus Brunner.

Cookie was preceded in death by her parents; and by two brothers, Walter J. “Mooney” Monstwil and Alexander “Olo” Monstwil.

Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday March 2, 2025, at the Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mineral Ridge, preceded by a 9:45 a.m. prayer service at the funeral home.

Burial will be in All Souls Cemetery in Bazetta.

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.josephrossifuneralhome.com.

(special notice)