OLD TOWN - Claudia "Nona" June Tucci, 75, died peacefully at home on April 1, 2018 surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with cancer. Claudia was born March 31, 1943 in Portland to June (Lusth) and Anthony "Tony" Tucci.
Claudia graduated from Deering High School in 1961. After a trip to Paris as a young adult planted a seed for travel, she took work as a secretary specialist for the US government. She spent a year working in Liberia, W. Africa, where she met her future husband, Marv. Upon returning to the States, she and Marv married on April 21, 1972 in Virginia. They later moved to Arizona where her daughter was born and where she earned an Associate in Arts degree from Arizona Western College in 1976. The family lived for a year in Korea where Marv was stationed with the US Army before they settled for good back in Maine. Claudia returned to school and earned a BA in Journalism with a minor in foreign affairs from the University of Maine in 1982. She had many interests over the years and never settled on a single career path. She was the cook for 19 years at St. Joseph Catholic rectory in Old Town where she wowed the taste buds of the Catholic priests. She was involved in the American Culinary Federation and even attended a semester at the Culinary Institute of America studying cooking and baking. She received her Master Gardener certification through UMaine, and for more than 10 years she lovingly tended her ‘moon garden’ at Roger’s Farm in Orono. She had a passion for gardening in general, and had spent many hours in her own yard planting fruit trees, berries, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Her love for music and theater was evident. She partook in voice instruction early on and later concentrated on piano, including jazz and music from the 30s, for close to 20 years under the outstanding instruction of Daryl Rhodes. She enjoyed volunteering in sing-a-longs at area nursing homes and spent a considerable amount of time involved with the Democratic Committee and Bangor’s Peace and Justice Center.
Claudia’s family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to all of those who took such wonderful care of her at Cancer Care of Maine and EMMC during her illness.
Claudia was preceded in death by her sister, Lucille (Tucci) Craven, and both of her parents. Claudia is survived by her beloved husband, Marv Toleson; daughter, Erin Barker, son-in-law, Robbie, and three grandchildren, Taylor Avery, Blake Barker, and Brooke Barker of Hampden; brothers, Peter Tucci and his partner, Sandy Smith, of Saco, Carlo Tucci and his partner, Nancy Glidden, of Pownal, and Michael Tucci of Mass.; several nephews and a niece; and many friends.
The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor, 11 am to 2 pm., Sunday April 8, 2018, where a celebration of this wonderful woman’s life will be held. Those who wish to make a gift in Claudia’s memory may donate to Maine Public Broadcasting, 63 Texas Ave., Bangor, ME. 04401 or the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, 96 Harlow St., Bangor, ME. 04401 or Penobscot Theatre, 131 Main St., Bangor, ME. 04401.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com