Obituary of Cecilia Mary Morton

Cecilia Mary Morton

1937 - 2024

God’s heavenly choir welcomed a gifted alto on November 17th, as Cecilia Morton peacefully passed away with her family by her side.“Ceil” was born in Frankfort, New York on January 4, 1937 to the late James and Cecilia D’Amico Caiola. She was the “baby” of the Caiola clan.

She proudly graduated from Frankfort Schuyler School with the class of 1954. 

She was united in marriage to Raymond G. Morton on July 2nd, 1955, and their home was always open and welcoming to family and friends. Ray passed away on September 20, 2007.
 

Music was an important part of Ceil’s life, and she happily shared it throughout the decades. In the 1970’s, she co-founded the C&M singers with her sister in law, Angie Caiola. The family group sang in churches and performed variety shows around the Mohawk Valley. The group included her sister Joanie, her daughters, the Manion sisters, friends and her nieces, whom she adored. In the 1990’s, Ceil turned her talents toward the Ilion Days, and worked tirelessly to organize some great shows in the community band shell. She was also proud to sing with her dear friends Pat, Joanne, and Denice in the Ilion quartet they named “Harmony”.

Ceil was a long time member of the Blessed Sacrament Church choir in Mohawk, NY, as well as the SS Addolorata Society in Frankfort, NY.

She played piano by ear from a very young age, and could sit down and play most requests at the drop of a hat! Ceil was the life of the party, and many Friday nights you would find her and Ray on the dance floor, swinging to the sounds of Chuck Paddock and the Mohicans.

She loved her work as a beautician, and practiced it for nearly 50 years. She owned her own beauty salon, and then spent over 25 years doing hair with her friends at Valley Health Services in Herkimer NY.

Ceil is predeceased by her husband Ray and their infant daughter Shelley and survived by her 5 children: Susan Morton-Brin and Greg Shankman of Florida, Sandra Walls and the late Randy Walls of Texas, Stephen and Sarah Morton of Texas, Sharon Morton of Rome, Stacey & Francis Kattato of Cold Brook.

Her cherished grandchildren, JJ Stemmer, Eric Walls & Family, Adam Walls & Family, Brian Morton, Jacob and Abigail Morton, and Nicholas Kattato and James Kattato.

She is also survived by her sister Joan Murphy, her sisters in law Tina Caiola, Angie Caiola, and Barbara Tibbits, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father in law and mother in law, Glenn and Anna Morton, her sisters and brothers in law  Fanny & Angelo Nicolette, Mary and Michael Ruffalo, Rose and Sam Piazza,  and Florence Caiola; her brothers and sisters in law, Sam and Lillian Caiola, Joseph and Rachel Caiola, her brothers Peter Caiola and Charles Caiola and her brothers in law Richard Murphy, Robert Tibbits, and sister and brothers in law Marion and David Conover, Richard and Marion Morton, Walter Morton and Roderick Morton

Her funeral will be held Monday, November 25, 2024 at 9:45 from the V.J.Iocovozzi Funeral Home, Inc 203 Second Ave., Frankfort and at 10:30 in Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Paul Catena, Pastor Interment will be in Mt Olivet Cemetery.
 

Calling hours will be Sunday from 4-6 at the V.J.Iocovozzi Funeral Home, Inc 203 Second Ave., Frankfort

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ceil’s name can be made to Masonic Care Community or the SS Addolorata Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Ceil’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Olteanu and the nurses and caregivers of the Masonic Care Community. Your tender care and respect for our mom means more than you will ever know. We are very grateful. Special thank you to sweet Lou Matousek who welcomed a new friend into her life at a challenging time. Your faith and friendship was so special to our family. To Father Tom Servatius, thank you for reminding Ceil that “It’s going to be alright”. And, to Ceil’s special friend Ray Arcuri, thank you for being a watchful eye and coffee buddy.

Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Ceil’s online memorial page by going to www.iocovozzifuneralhomes.com