By Dan Miner/minerd@gnnewspaper.com
A Monday car accident in the Town of Lewiston claimed the life of a woman who ran a well-known Niagara Falls deli for decades.
Mary L. DeMarchi, who lived on Ridge Road in the Town of Lewiston, was pronounced dead at Erie County Medical Center after being flown by Mercy Flight from the scene of the accident, which happened on Route 104 near Meadowbrook Drive. DeMarchi, who owned McLeod’s Deli on Main Street, was 70 years old.
According to state police, a 2000 Pontiac driven by Debbra L. Romanelli, 25, of Youngstown, crossed through the center turning lane on Rt. 104 and struck DeMarchi’s 2008 Toyota Matrix, heading in the opposite direction, at around 1:50 p.m. Monday.
Romanelli suffered a broken ankle, said Investigator Christopher Puckett of the state police. A passenger in her car, 25-year old Dennis A. Daigle, broke his thumb. Both were transported by ambulance to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston.
“For unknown reasons, Romanelli lost control of her vehicle,” Puckett said. “The vehicles hit head on.”
A full investigation into the incident is ongoing. On Tuesday, a collision reconstruction team from the state police was at the accident scene.
“There’s no indication of drugs or alcohol,” Puckett said. “We don’t want to speculate any further. We’re interviewing witnesses and occupants of the other vehicle.”
In 2005, DeMarchi sold McLeod’s to the city to be demolished for the new municipal safety complex. The sandwich shop had been in the family for 60 years.
“It was an institution in Niagara Falls,” said Ralph Aversa, Executive Director of NFC Corp. “They had the best sandwiches and soups in the city.”
Aversa negotiated the sale of DeMarchi’s Main Street building to the city. He called her an excellent businesswoman and negotiator who became a friend.
“She would call me for advice,” he said. “She was always a very delightful to talk with and a very professional woman.”
