Matilda "Tillie" (Makarewicz) Damiano, 90, of Whitesboro, passed away on Sunday, December 30, 2012 with her loving family by her side. Matilda was born in Utica, December 10, 1922, the daughter of the late Julian and Josephine (Damjan) Makarewicz. She was educated locally in Utica schools. On November 28, 1946, Thanksgiving Day, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Anthony "Tony" Damiano at Holy Trinity Church. Tony and Tillie were inseparable until his death, February 28, 2008. In 1947, Tony and Tillie opened Damiano's Market on Columbia Square in West Utica. From 1947, until the day Tony became ill, Tillie and Tony were a cornerstone of the square. Tillie could be found helping a child decide if he or she wanted a grape, cherry or orange popsicle, scrubbing something that had already been cleaned, fixing soup or macaroni salad or, more often than not, chasing behind Tony. When you walked into the store, you were always greeted by Tillie's smile and her desire to do anything for you. She treated each and every person she met with love and respect, and always made sure that a person didn't go hungry. In addition to the store, Tillie loved to spend time with her family and friends, especially Sunday afternoon barbecues and dinners. She also enjoyed tending to her plants and flowers, taking care of her home, and living life to the fullest. Tillie is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Diane Damiano of Whitesboro; her daughter and son-in-law Susan and Raymond Kurpis of Orlando, FL; and her daughter Maryann Damiano and David Inserra of Oneida. She leaves two beloved granddaughters; Allison and her husband Gus DeTraglia of New Hartford and Amanda Damiano of Amherst, NY. She also is survived by three sisters; Rose Sokolowski, Dorothy Makarewicz, and Patricia and Charles Dwyer of Utica; a sister-in-law Martha Makarewicz of Trenton, NJ; a brother-in-law Armand and Margot Damiano of Murfreesboro, TN as well as several nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Tony; two sisters and brothers-in law Eleanor and Anthony Pole, Regina and Bernard Lorenz; a brother Walter Makarewicz; and brothers-in-law Edwin Sokolowski and Joseph Damiano. Mrs. Damiano's funeral will be held on Friday January 4, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Whitesboro where her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Rite of Committal and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Utica. Family and friends are invited to call at the Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro St., Utica on Thursday from 4:00pm to 7:00 p.m.