
Obituary of Rae McCoy
Please share a memory of Rae to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.
Rafaella Simonetti McCoy: 4/18/27-2/29/25
97 years young!
Rafaella grew up in Queens NY where she was born. She grew up in a large family
being one of 8 children (5 sisters and 2 brothers). Her parents immigrated from Naples,
Italy- through Ellis Island. As they were poor, she, being gifted with a beautiful voice,
would sing for money in the Italian feasts. The patrons would throw coins onto the
stage. The coins helped to support her family. Her stage name was “Stellina”, meaning
“Little Star” in Italian. She grew up, fell in love, & married at a young age. After having 5
children with her husband who turned out to be an alcoholic abusive husband- she left-
returning home with her children in tow.
She brought into this world: 4 sons: Stephen, Lonnie, Timothy, Michael- and 1 daughter
Suzanne. She raised five amazing children… all on her own. Rafaella was a strong
woman who overcame many obstacles. She was strong enough to leave her abusive
marriage. She overcame poverty-initially being on welfare- but then got her GED
diploma and worked to support us. She overcame perhaps the most unimaginable grief:
surviving the passing of her two sons: Stephen (her oldest) and Michael (her youngest).
As she never found a love companion again -she survived perhaps also the loneliness
that becomes, over time- too much a part of you- too familiar, - - Truth be told- she
never looked for that love companion. Her children were her life.
Although singing was always her passion, in her later years, in her seventies- she
began to write poetry. She was known to us as “Rafaella -the Great Storyteller”- a.k.a.
Mama. Below is just one of her poems, from her self-published book: “Rafella- Follow
her Trails through the Years”.
We celebrate her. We rejoice in her reunion with our brothers, and with Jesus,
her God- who she had unwavering faith in.
THE DAWNING OF EACH DAY
I cherish your first heartbeat on awakening
Not hearing, but knowing of more to follow
How astonishingly you are
Embedded in me so deep
And amazingly I start to weep
My life you did begin
Beating day and night
To make sure I’m alright
In my mother’s womb you found me
Started one little beat for me to be
Little heart,
Will you keep beating while I sleep?
I ought shame myself And again
I start to weep
If you should die- So, must I
Heart of mine, You must live
For you and me
Without you
I cannot be
-Rafaella Simonetti McCoy
Tuesday
4
February
Visitation at Funeral Home
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home
723 Coney Island Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Tuesday
4
February
Final Resting Place
1:00 pm
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Cypress Hills Cemetery
833 Jamaica Avenue
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event
Ongoing
Online Event
About this Event

In Loving Memory
Rae McCoy
1927 - 2025
Look inside to read what others have shared
Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book.
Contact Us
723 Coney Island Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
11218
Looking for something you can't find? We make it easy to get the answers you need. Please feel free to contact us at anytime.
Blair Mazzarella Funeral Home proudly serves Brooklyn NY and the following (but not limited too) communities of: Park Slope, Carrol Gardens, Kensington, Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Marine Park, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Midwood, Bensonhurst, Bayridge, Lower Manhatten, Manhatten, East New York and Prospect Lefferts Gardens NY
Website Content Managed by Mike Hepburn