Pacitto’s Ice Cream Couple Die Weeks Apart After 72 Years Married

Benny and Nancy Pacitto loved each other. They also dedicated their lives to Pacitto’s ice cream. The couple was married for 72 years. Sadly, they died within six weeks of each other.

Benny passed away on Christmas Day in 2024. He was 96 years old, while Nancy died on February 5 after an illness at the age of 92. They leave behind their son Mark. Their other son, Paul, is deceased. They were loving grandparents.

The Pacitto family is famous for their ice cream. Giacomo Pacitto started the business after coming to Teesside from Cassino in the late 1800s. He opened his first shop in Stockton, then expanded to Redcar and Scarborough. Pacitto’s is well-known in Teesside.

Benny and Nancy met in the early 1950s. Benny’s mom convinced Nancy to come to Teesside, and she arrived from Cassino in 1951 at only 19 years old. She cooked for the family and also worked at Pacitto’s, even though she spoke no English at first.

Benny and Nancy got married in 1952 at St Cuthbert’s Church. They worked hard in the Pacitto business. Benny started in 1948, making ice cream with relatives in Redcar. Nancy worked in the Stockton shops with Benny’s brother.

Benny liked working behind the scenes, helping make ice cream using a secret recipe. Later, he did office work. Nancy was more outgoing, and many people remember her apple pies. They went to the shop just for her pies.

Ray Pacitto is Benny’s brother and he remembers Nancy fondly. He said Nancy called him her daytime husband, because her home husband was Benny in Redcar. Together, Benny and Nancy worked for Pacitto’s for over 130 years.

Benny didn’t like vacation much but enjoyed visiting family in Italy. He also enjoyed playing snooker. Michael, Benny’s cousin, still makes ice cream, a major part of Benny’s life. Benny got along well with his cousins when they made ice cream. Funeral services for Benny and Nancy happened at Stockton Crematorium.