JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. – Letty Serra was a force of nature. Born on Mulberry Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1933, she remained a New Yorker for life. Despite her residency on Jupiter Island, Florida for the last three years, and though her speech was cruelly robbed from her due the Progressive Supranucluear Palsy she fought valiantly, she would still manage to say “I’m a New Yorker” with clarity and frequency until days before her death.The eighth of nine children born to Italian immigrant parents, she paved her own way, determined to have a life in the theater. She was a serious student growing up and made her way to UCLA where she graduated both with a B.A. in Theater and M.A. in English, Cum Laude. That’s where she met her husband, William Becker. She was 5-feet-tall and he is 6-foot-3-inches. Watching them dance always made everyone smile.Together they returned to her hometown of New York City and married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sept. 9, 1974. They had a daughter, Alexandra, two years later. After dedicating the next years of her life to being a mother and teaching Catholic school, she picked up her theater career again, becoming a mentor for many young actors new to New York City. Over her lifetime Serra played every role in the theater: writer, director, actor, coach, advisor, producer. She was a member of New York Women in Film and TV, SAG-AFTRA, American Federation of Television Radio Artists and Actor’s Equity Association. She founded and served as Director of the Actor’s Conservatory at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, N.Y., was Executive Director of The Stella Adler Theatre in Los Angeles, and was an Acting Teacher of Film/TV at Screen Actors Guild Conservatory in New York. Serra directed plays on both coasts, as well as appeared in over 20 films and television productions and more than 25 stage productions. As a writer she wrote the one act play Lotto as well as co-wrote the award-winning film script, “Say Nothing,” taking the 2016 London Film Festival Award for best film script, as well as 12 other other film awards. Serra taught public speaking at New York University and Mercy College. At 80 years old, she returned to the Stella Adler Center for the Arts in Manhattan and played in Uncle Vanya. It was her last time on the stage. Serra kept the same friends for over 50 years. She was loyal, passionate, opinionated, judgmental, generous, buckle-your-knees-funny, and adored food, fashion and art. A ballet dancer in her younger years, she took dance classes until her body wouldn’t let her anymore. She always had a little dog by her side. She was a devout Catholic.She was predeceased by all eight of her siblings and survived by her Pomeranian, Bianca; her extraordinarily devoted husband of 48 years, William Becker; her daughter, Alexandra Serra-Wolfington, son-in-law Harry Wolfington; numerous friends of many decades; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and even great-great-nieces and nephews. One nephew who deserves full mention is her Godson, Luddy DePasquale, who was deeply invested in helping with her life until quite literally, the very end.All are welcome to celebrate this remarkable lady. The bigger the crowd, the happier she was. Please help fill the house for her final performance. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12 Summer St., Hallowell, Maine. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s (Pelton Hill) Cemetery in Manchester, Maine immediately following the Mass. Reception following burial will be at the Augusta Country Club, 19 Hammonds Grove, Manchester, Maine 04351. If you wish to send flowers, please call Augusta Florist at 207-626-2808.Arrangements are in the care of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME 04330. There has been a scholarship established in her name at the Stella Adler Studio in NYC. To donate, go to:https://ste-web.scansoftware.com/cafeweb/tapestry?service=external/DonationPage, look at the Gift Purpose 1 drop down menu. Letty Serra’s name is second from the top.