LELAND — Services for Mary Agnes Gonnellini Shapley, 89, of Leland, who died Friday, June 15, 2012, at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, at St. James Catholic Church in Leland with the Rev. Charles Bucciantini officiating.

Burial will follow at Leland-Stoneville Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at St. James Catholic Church in Leland, with a rosary to follow at 7 p.m.

Shapley was born Jan. 18, 1923, to Grale and Attelia Gonnellini of Natchez.

She was born and raised on her father’s farm, Beechwood Plantation, in Natchez.  She attended St. Joseph Cathedral High School until graduating in 1935. While attending Cathedral High School, she was a star basketball player. After graduating from high school, she managed Ritz Jewelers in Natchez until she met her husband, Leon. They were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Basilica in Natchez on Jan. 19, 1947.  After their marriage, Mary and Leon made residence in Leland.

Mary worked as an office manager for the Leland Compress and then was the vice president for the Soil Enterprise Corporation in Stoneville.  She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, was an avid gardener and enjoyed knitting baby blankets for friends. She was a lifetime member of St. James Catholic Church and the Ladies Auxiliary Society.

Mary was a woman of incredible strength and spirit.  She was strongly devoted to her family and greatly respected and admired by all who knew her for her kindness, generosity, and gentle spirit.  Her passing will surely leave a great void in the lives of her children and dear friends.

Her children wish to extend heartfelt thanks and gratitude to caregivers, Virginia Felton, Barbara Coblenty, Rose Alexander, Barbara Johnson, Cindy Jarrett, Leigh Ann Shoffner and Trudy Giesbrecht.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Perina Simmons; and three brothers, Robert, Louis and Alex Gonnellini.

Survivors include two sons, George Shapley and wife, Teresa, of Summit, and Leon G. Shapley and wife, Jana, of Somerville, Tenn.; one daughter, Rita Shapley Dunn and husband, Jimmy, of Greenville; two granddaughters, Patricia Bourassa of Houston and Shelby Fittes of Somerville; and one great grandson, Hudson Powers of Somerville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church, P. O. Box 352, Leland, MS, 38756, or to your favorite charity.

Pallbearers will be Mack Fratesi, David “Dada” Lewis, her godchild John Greco, her godchild Jerry Wayne Santucci, Freddie Abide and Jerry Thomas.