Tosca Sideli died peacefully on Saturday, May 30, with family at her side at Cabrini Eldercare in Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she had lived since earlier this year.  She was a longtime resident of Massapequa Park where she lived with her husband, Aurelio (Leo) Sideli, since their marriage in 1950; he preceded her in death in October, 2000. Tosca Mosciatti was born in Rome, Italy, to Ruggiero Mosciatti and Anna Gennari and emigrated to the United States in 1947 where she met Leo when his father was under her nursing care at Columbus Hospital. She led a very independent life from the start for a woman of her generation.  As the youngest of five children whose parents died relatively young, she became self-reliant early in life.  She was an active athlete in her youth, excelling internationally in track and field, and then joined the Italian Red Cross during World War II where she distinguished herself for bravery while parachuting into battle to tend to the wounded. She brought her sense of independence and fearlessness to her life on Long Island where she became involved in many local organizations including the Girl Scouts, the Democratic Party, the local PTA, the Woman's Club, and the Rosary Society at St. Rose of Lima.  She was particularly proud of her involvement with Teas for Kennedy in the 1960s which allowed her to meet many members of that storied family.  But her proudest achievement was the establishment of St. Rose of Lima Community Services along with her friends Elda Vitolo, Marie Daidone and Avis Bond.  They opened the Nearly New Thrift Shop, later renamed the Bargain Box, which operated with a volunteer network under her leadership from 1963 until 2003 when she retired and the Shop closed.  The proceeds from the sales supported members of the community in need.  And the volunteers formed a tightknit support community among themselves for one another.  The story goes that their social justice activities served as a model for what became the Outreach Program of the Catholic Church.  Her selfless spirit was felt by innumerable families over the decades.  She was honored for her efforts in 1981 by the Knights of Columbus who gave her their Citizen of the Year Award. Her intrepid nature led to her organizing numerous international trips with friends to countries just opening up to U.S. tourism in the 1980’s (e.g., China, Russia and Egypt).  Tosca was also widely known for her artistic talents.  She helped to create St. Rose of Lima’s Christmas Bazaar and designed numerous fundraisers for St. Rose which involved elaborate decorations and themes (i.e., Night in Paris).  She also designed landscape projects, for public spaces in Massapequa Park, for her own home–where she built a rock garden–and even in Italy.  Her arts and crafts projects were legendary; she made Christmas ornaments at a time when such crafting was not common.  She excelled at entertaining and loved nothing more than setting a table of crystal, silver and china for family and friends.  There was always a seat at her table. But the pride and joy of her life was her family.  She is survived by her three children Kathleen, Robert (Donna Mercurio) and Vincent (Denise Vaught); six grandchildren, Laura Quilter, Vincent Sideli, Liana Sideli, William Sideli, Matthew Quilter and Marina Sideli; her siblings, Victor Mosciatti and Silvana Petrini; nephews, nieces and cousins in the U.S. and in Italy where she traveled often,  and many dear friends. Visitation will be at the South Chapel of the Massapequa Funeral Home, 4980 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park, NY 11762 on Wednesday, June 3, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  A funeral mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 2 Bayview Avenue, Massapequa, NY, 11758 at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to either St. Rose of Lima’s Outreach Program (2 Bayview Ave., Massapequa , NY 11758) or Cabrini Eldercare, 115 Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 where she was well cared for in the last months of her life.