Maria Ditommaso

Dear Maria returned Home to the Lord on Dec 3, 2022 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Calabria, Italy in 1932, she grew up during WW II and very often shared stories of those challenging times with family. As a child, she witnessed many tragic events during WWII. She lost many relatives and friends during this time, but in the end, strong relatives and friends prevailed. Maria emigrated from Italy to the United States with her husband Giuseppe and children in the 1950's. She was very proud of this accomplishment and held her U.S. citizenship in high regard.

Maria worked many years for the Newark Archdiocese at Seton Hall University, NJ retiring in 1983. As matriarch of the family, she instilled strong values in her children and grandchildren. Hard work, respect, honesty, generosity, and devotion to family were Maria's philosophy. “We are birds in passing, so for the time we are here on earth we should love and cherish each other” was what Maria would repeat to her children and words she lived by. Her devoted family will remember these words and follow her values. She was a devout Catholic and believed in the life everlasting and looked forward to reuniting with loved ones.

Maria enjoyed cooking, crocheting, art projects, bowling and singing - she had a beautiful voice; and was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, New Cumberland. She was an amazing cook, and if you knew her, you never went hungry – “Mangia”!

Preceded in death by her Husband Giuseppe, devoted mom Maria leaves behind cherished children and their families; Livia and Salvatore Nicastro, Saveria DiTommaso, Domenica and (Randall deceased) Chapnick , Joseph and Tracey DiTommaso; grandchildren, Salvatore and Sarah Nicastro, Dante and Kara Nicastro, Eric Nicastro, Prima and Dane Webster, (Maria DeMeo, deceased), Joan DiMeo, Laura DiTommaso and Danielle DiTommaso; ten great grandchildren; devoted Nieces Saveria Violi Ferraro and Vicenza Violi Loiacono; as well as many cousins and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Friday, December 9, 2022 in St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1300 Bridge St. New Cumberland, PA. Viewings will be from 2 – 6 pm Thursday and 9:30 – 10:30 am Friday in Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1303 Bridge St. New Cumberland. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mechanicsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions in Maria’s memory to either St. Theresa Catholic Church at the address above or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.