Mafalda Giovanna Domenica Paganuzzi

Mafalda Giovanna Domenica Paganuzzi, 83, of Morganton, NC passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2014.  She was the daughter of the late Giovanni Paganuzzi and Bice Ricci Paganuzzi.  Mafalda was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.

Mafalda was born in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, United Kingdom and moved to northern Italy at 2 years old.  She lived in Italy until the just prior to the start of WWII when she moved the London, England.  In 1975 Mafalda moved to Bronx, NY and worked at the Yale Club as the first female valet.  After her retirement in 1995, she moved to North Carolina to be closer to her son.  She then took up gardening and learned to landscape paint.  Mafalda was also avid knitter and crocheter.  She became a naturalized citizen in 2000 and was very proud of her American citizenship and her Italian Heritage.

Mafalda is survived by her son, Roberto Paganuzzi and his life-partner Phyllis Wogan, of Morganton; grandchildren, Robert Wogan and his wife, Christina, and Stephen Wogan; great-grandchildren, Olivia Wogan, Violet Wogan, and Reid Wogan; brothers, Frank and Bruno Paganuzzi, both of Bronx, NY; sisters, Olga Illari and Maria Brattesani, both of Bronx; and her ex-husband, Marino Paganuzzi of London.

In addition to her parents, Mafalda was preceded in death by a sister, Carmelina �Carmen� Negri.

The funeral Mass will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, July 4, 2014 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with the Rev. Kenneth Whittington officiating.  The family will receive friends in Murray Hall from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.  Burial will be held at a later date in St. Raymond Cemetery in Bronx, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.