Mary’s parents – Charles and Phyllis Spiteri – immigrated from Malta to Toronto, Canada and had their first child, Mary, there in 1927. Two years later they moved to New York City and before long had five more children. Mary was the oldest of the six growing up in New York.
In 1951, she married the love of her life, Albert DeFiore, and three years later they had their first child, Karen. Robert “Bobby” and Maryanne followed to complete their family of five. She remained close to her children throughout her long life and is remembered fondly by her seven grandchildren, Joseph, Nick, Kimberly, Ryan, Christopher, Lisa, and Katie.
Remembered most importantly as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary was also a talented artist. She retouched photographs by hand in a time before digital tools and painted beautiful pictures of animals and nature that now adorn the homes of her children and grandchildren.
She also had a great sense of humor and was known for responding to smart-aleck comments with “to the Moon,” a line from the show Honeymooners. Mary was a great cook who would make Italian feasts for her children growing up and delicious homemade fish cakes or garlic chickpeas when she visited her children. She was also an adept bowler who taught several of her grandchildren how to bowl.
Living her final years in New Jersey, she suffered with dementia and her nearby daughter Maryanne was always there to remind her how loved she was. A faithful Catholic, her loved ones can take heart that she is now smiling down on the wonderful family she left behind remembering clearly and fondly all the beautiful time they spent together during her 96 years in our world.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Albert, and leaves three children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
A visitation for family and friends will be held for Mary on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 3010 Ridgeway Road, Manchester, NJ 08759. Following the visitation,there will be a funeral service from 1 to 1:30 pm at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Rd, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.
Fond memories and condolences can be left on www.andersoncampbellmanchester.com
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