Lee
Lee Ann Cuzzocrea Maggiore Conner
Lee Ann Cuzzocrea Maggiore Conner
April 1, 1933 – November 9, 2022
Si e spento serenamente oggi …
She has serenely gone out like a candle today.
Lee Ann Cuzzocrea Maggiore Conner (April 1, 1933 – November 9, 2022) lived a beautiful, dignified life. A discerning woman of exquisite taste, Lee provided comfort and solace while asking little in return.
Lee was born on April Fool’s Day to Lorenza and Dominic Cuzzocrea in Detroit, Michigan. She was the apple of her father’s eye, being the sixth and youngest child of this loving, devout Italian immigrant family. Lee was an entrepreneur early in life, supporting her family both financially and spiritually. Very popular and successful throughout high school, Lee and her parents relocated to Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1950’s.
During a successful initial career in banking, Lee met and married the father of her children, Hon. Vincent D. Maggiore (deceased 1991), in 1955. Lee retired from banking thereafter and tirelessly campaigned for her husband as he ran for Maricopa County Attorney and head of the County Democrat Party. A fashion model and philanthropist, she subsequently became a licensed Realtor and then successful Broker, working with Orme Ellis, Russ Lyon, and other prominent Arizona Realtors. Lee and Vincent divorced in 1973.
In 1976, Lee fell in love and married her soulmate, husband W.C. (“Bill”) Conner of Sigourney, Iowa. Lee and Bill relocated to Sigourney where they shared a passion for travel, gardening, crossword puzzles, anything and everything Italian, and cooking. Lee and Bill became expert chefs, studying with Jacques Pepin, among other renowned culinary professionals. Lee also became an avid University of Iowa Hawkeye fan, begrudgingly foregoing her previous loyalty to fellow Big 10 rival Michigan Wolverines. Lee and Bill returned to Arizona in 1984.
After Bill’s passing in 1994, Lee yet again immersed herself in philanthropy and service. She became a Mayo Clinic volunteer, rising through those ranks to become an invaluable asset to the entire Mayo health system. Lee also dedicated much time and resources to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Phoenix, and the Arizona Humane Society. Lee was a champion of dogs all over the world and rescued many throughout her lifetime.
Nothing brought Lee more joy than knowing her children were happy and safe. She was very grateful to know her children had excellent partners. To her daughter, Lee leaves her determination, pride, and good taste. To her son, Lee leaves her sardonic wit and disdain for authority. To both, Lee leaves her enduring love.
Lee was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Catherine Cuzzocrea and Lucy Cuzzocrea Godsey, brothers Anthony Cuzzocrea, Frank Cuzzocrea, and Vincent (James) Cuzzocrea, and nephew Dominic D. Cuzzocrea. Lee leaves behind her daughter Lisa Maggiore Conner Aquilina and her husband Drew of Merrimack, New Hampshire, and her son Vincent Michael Maggiore and his wife Sharlotte of Santa Fe, New Mexico; nephews Frank Cuzzo, John Cuzzocrea, Carl Byland, and Lawrence Cuzzocrea; nieces Lynda Mosely, Antoinette Robinson, Anna Lacy, Kim Litt, Mary Cuzzocrea, and Laurine Ballot; stepchildren Linda Erkamaa, Michael Conner, Patrick Conner, Robert Conner, and James Conner; step-grandchildren Mikko, Matti, Nicole, Nathan, Sarah, Sean, Clell, Kira, Doug, Angie, Jennifer, and Laurel; grand-dogs Stormy and Highway; and, a host of great and great-grand nieces and nephews, step great-grandchildren, cousins, and long-time friends and colleagues across America and Italy.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Our Lady of The Angels, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, followed by a private committal service at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in the name of Lee A. Conner to the Arizona Humane Society https://www.azhumane.org/more-ways-to-give/
or The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give/donate.
Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.
April 1, 1933 – November 9, 2022
Si e spento serenamente oggi …
She has serenely gone out like a candle today.
Lee Ann Cuzzocrea Maggiore Conner (April 1, 1933 – November 9, 2022) lived a beautiful, dignified life. A discerning woman of exquisite taste, Lee provided comfort and solace while asking little in return.
Lee was born on April Fool’s Day to Lorenza and Dominic Cuzzocrea in Detroit, Michigan. She was the apple of her father’s eye, being the sixth and youngest child of this loving, devout Italian immigrant family. Lee was an entrepreneur early in life, supporting her family both financially and spiritually. Very popular and successful throughout high school, Lee and her parents relocated to Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1950’s.
During a successful initial career in banking, Lee met and married the father of her children, Hon. Vincent D. Maggiore (deceased 1991), in 1955. Lee retired from banking thereafter and tirelessly campaigned for her husband as he ran for Maricopa County Attorney and head of the County Democrat Party. A fashion model and philanthropist, she subsequently became a licensed Realtor and then successful Broker, working with Orme Ellis, Russ Lyon, and other prominent Arizona Realtors. Lee and Vincent divorced in 1973.
In 1976, Lee fell in love and married her soulmate, husband W.C. (“Bill”) Conner of Sigourney, Iowa. Lee and Bill relocated to Sigourney where they shared a passion for travel, gardening, crossword puzzles, anything and everything Italian, and cooking. Lee and Bill became expert chefs, studying with Jacques Pepin, among other renowned culinary professionals. Lee also became an avid University of Iowa Hawkeye fan, begrudgingly foregoing her previous loyalty to fellow Big 10 rival Michigan Wolverines. Lee and Bill returned to Arizona in 1984.
After Bill’s passing in 1994, Lee yet again immersed herself in philanthropy and service. She became a Mayo Clinic volunteer, rising through those ranks to become an invaluable asset to the entire Mayo health system. Lee also dedicated much time and resources to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Phoenix, and the Arizona Humane Society. Lee was a champion of dogs all over the world and rescued many throughout her lifetime.
Nothing brought Lee more joy than knowing her children were happy and safe. She was very grateful to know her children had excellent partners. To her daughter, Lee leaves her determination, pride, and good taste. To her son, Lee leaves her sardonic wit and disdain for authority. To both, Lee leaves her enduring love.
Lee was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Catherine Cuzzocrea and Lucy Cuzzocrea Godsey, brothers Anthony Cuzzocrea, Frank Cuzzocrea, and Vincent (James) Cuzzocrea, and nephew Dominic D. Cuzzocrea. Lee leaves behind her daughter Lisa Maggiore Conner Aquilina and her husband Drew of Merrimack, New Hampshire, and her son Vincent Michael Maggiore and his wife Sharlotte of Santa Fe, New Mexico; nephews Frank Cuzzo, John Cuzzocrea, Carl Byland, and Lawrence Cuzzocrea; nieces Lynda Mosely, Antoinette Robinson, Anna Lacy, Kim Litt, Mary Cuzzocrea, and Laurine Ballot; stepchildren Linda Erkamaa, Michael Conner, Patrick Conner, Robert Conner, and James Conner; step-grandchildren Mikko, Matti, Nicole, Nathan, Sarah, Sean, Clell, Kira, Doug, Angie, Jennifer, and Laurel; grand-dogs Stormy and Highway; and, a host of great and great-grand nieces and nephews, step great-grandchildren, cousins, and long-time friends and colleagues across America and Italy.
A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30pm on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Our Lady of The Angels, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, followed by a private committal service at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in the name of Lee A. Conner to the Arizona Humane Society https://www.azhumane.org/more-ways-to-give/
or The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Phoenix https://www.stvincentdepaul.net/give/donate.
Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lee Ann Cuzzocrea Maggiore Conner, please visit our flower store.
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