Mario J. Virga

It is with great sadness that the family of Mario John Virga announces his passing on November 12th, 2022 at the age of 88 yrs old.  He died peacefully in his sleep at the home he shared with his partner of 18 years, Mary Peitler, in Long Beach, NY. 

Mario was born on June 19th, 1934 in Cedarhurst, NY to Thomas Virga and Amelia Restaino. He grew up in Cedarhurst and then Hewlett, NY alongside his siblings Angelo and Joyce before graduating from Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst in 1953. 

Shortly thereafter, he joined the United State Army and served as a Specialist 3rd Class Infantryman guarding the Panama Canal Locks from 1955 to 1961. He met his future wife Nancy Sitra, during this time period, and married in Queens, NY on September 20th, 1959. Mario and Nancy raised four children, Michael, Lori, Renee and Matthew, in their first home in Baldwin, NY before moving the family to their dream home in Setauket NY in 1976. Mario worked many jobs throughout his early years of raising a family, but eventually was employed as a field sales representative in Suffolk County for the Ortho Products Division of the Chevron Chemical Company for nearly 30 years.

Mario and Nancy took great delight in entertaining and hosting numerous Christmas gatherings and backyard parties over the years to celebrate life’s milestones with extended family and friends. They also loved taking their four children on summer vacations, including a cross country trip in 1973 and nearly annual trips to Disney World throughout the 1970s and 80s. When Michael, Lori, Renee and Matt reached adulthood and had marriages of their own, the arrival of a total of 13 beloved grandchildren would bring Mario and Nancy great joy. 

Mario remained in his Setauket home for 34 yrs, even after his wife Nancy’s passing in 2002. After attending a 50thHigh School reunion in 2003, he reconnected with old friends, and one of them, Mary Peitler, would soon become his companion and life partner, splitting their time between homes in Long Beach, NY and Jensen Beach, Florida.

Mario is predeceased by his loving wife Nancy of 43 yrs, his son Michael, his brother Angelo, and his parents Thomas and Amelia. He will be warmly remembered by his partner Mary Peitler of Long Beach, NY, his children, Lori Cinque (and husband Joseph) of Amherst, NH, Renee Kelpie (and husband Raymond) of Islip Terrace, NY, Matthew Virga (and wife Michelle) of Sayville, NY, his daughter in law Megan Virga of Silver Spring, Md, his sister Joyce Kelly (and husband James) of Springfield Center, NY, and his grandchildren, in age order, Frank Cinque, Katelyn Virga, Michael Cinque, Alex Carpenter, Connor Cinque, Anthony Virga, Callie Cinque, Jonathan Virga, Nicholas Virga, Ian Virga, Donovan Kelpie, Asa Virga, and Ryan Kelpie.