Lucia (Lucy) Aparo, 104, of Hiawassee, Georgia passed away Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Brasstown Manor in Hiawassee. Lucy was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Italian immigrant parents. Definitely ahead of her time, Lucy, in spite of great odds, forged her way through college to become the first Sicilian teacher in Connecticut. She then took more classes in order to teach English to the immigrants living there. Her father was one of her students. Lucy taught school for a total of 37 years, beginning in a one room school house in Connecticut teaching grades one through eight. She and her husband Jim moved to Florida in 1955 and Lucy continued to teach there until her retirement in 1979. In 1999, she and Jim moved to Hiawassee to be near family. After Jim died in 2003, she visited the Senior Center in Hiawassee daily and became famous for her Wii bowling skills. Lucy was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hayesville.

She was the daughter of the late Rosario and Josephine Aparo and wife of the late James Aparo. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Aparo and two brothers, Thomas and James Aparo.

Surviving are a son, Sal Aparo and wife, Kathleen of Hiawassee; four grandchildren, James, Christine, Mary, and Katie; 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Friday, August 25 at 12 noon with Father Alex Ayala and Father George Kloster officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Lucy Aparo to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o Kathryn H. Slagle, 273 Kilpatrick Point Drive, Hayesville, NC 28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville is in charge of arrangements.