Mary Acocello

Mary Jane Acocello passed away at age 93 Wednesday October 16, 2002 at her granddaughter's family home in Port Orchard. She leaves behind a very beloved husband Anthony Acocello of Bremerton, Washington, as well as 3 children, C. Patrick Good (Mt. Vernon, Washington), Lou Lovelace, (Bellevue, Washington), Michael T. Good of Fir Island (Conway, Washington) also remaining are 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandson and a wealth of other beloved family members and loving friends.Born Mary Jane Coleman, she was the 14th of 15 children to parents Lemuel Thomas (Tom) Coleman and Luella Lera Littlefield-Coleman on April 20th 1909 in Belt, Montana. Mary ws the last surviving child. Her parents and the family moved from Montana two months after Mary's birth, returning to Iowa where the youngest of Mary's siblings Martha, was born in 1911. The The family returned to Montana and there they lived until 1919 when Tom packed up the family and moved out west to Burlington, Washington. There Mary lived her childhood years, learning to play the violin when she was 12 years old.She married Ronald F. Good of Conway, Washington in 1926. They had 3 children, Pat, Lou and Mike and all lived on the farm on Fir Island where they ran a chinchilla ranch and farmed the land. Her son Mike lives there still.In the early 1940's the U.S. Government decided to teach farmers how to weld so they could repair their own farm equipment while the labor force was concentrating on war efforts. Mary didn't want to go, but was persuaded by her then husband Ron whom she later divorced. She and her younger sister Martha went to learn the trade together, graduated from the course and went on to become journeyman welders. They were first emplyed at the Everett Shipyards in 1943, and then moved on to Bremerton's Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in '44 where they were the first ever female welders to be hired there. Mary and sister Martha took a break away from welding to venture north to Alaska in the early 50's. There she worked as a cook in Naknek. She came back to Burlington for a period of time where she owned and operated Burlington's Truck Stop Cafe on Old Hwy. 99.Mary went back to Bremerton and eventually retired from the naval shipyard in 1968. Meanwhile earlier in the shipyards she met and thereafter married her husband Tony Acocello, a fellow welder at PSNS whose Italian sparkle lit up her life for her remaining 50+ years on this earth. They lived at their East Bremerton home until her passing.In 1972 at the age of 63 Mary picked up her long neglected violin and started "fiddling around", bringing the joys of her music to herself and others for the rest of her days. She joined the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association and the Natinal Old Time Fiddlers Association where she entered and sometimes won both local and state contests. She was extremely active performing on stage, jamming with friends, playing with her Washington Old Time Fiddlers in local nursing homes and elsewhere, and entertaining most anyone who wanted to listen. She laid her fiddle down just months prior to her passing.Mary was a member of Bremerton's Italian Club, Eastside Garden Club, belonged to the National Old Time Fiddler's Association, Washington Old Time Fiddlers, Association-District #5, and was a lifetime member of the Rexville Grange in La Conner, Washington. She chaired many positions over the years in those affiliations. She was honored as one of "Rosie the Riveters and and Winnie the Welders" this past May.Mary Acocello was known for her keen sense of humor, inspirational stories, many talents and a giving spirit. She lived and loved well, and she will be missed.A memorial celebration will be held November 2, 2002 at 2:00 at Rill Chapel, 1151 Mitchell Avenue, Port Orchard, Washington 98366. Immediately following the memorial . . . a celebration of her life will be held at the Knights of Columbus at 1153 Mitchell Avenue, Port Orchard, (next door to the chapel). Remembrances can be sent online at www.rill.com and donations to Washington Old Time Fiddlers/Children's Musical Education Fund c/o 2419 SE Celebrity Ct., Port Orchard, Washington 98367.