Mary Adele DeMartino

When you lose someone you love, you don't know where to start. Ok, Mom here I go. So, I'll start at the beginning of my Mom's life that I know. She was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 20, 1924. Remember this because you will hear it again. She was born to John and Herrietta McKee. She had an older brother, Johnny, then Etta, my mom and Billy and Georgie who passed away very young. My mom would tell me how she would go get scrap metal and sell it to the junk men. She would then take the money and treat her friends to the movies. My grandmother would give her the typical "bowl cuts" back then and due to her skinny build she was mistaken for a neighborhood boy. The story I was told, she was walking back from the store for my grandmother and was stopped by a neighbor, Tony Samone, he began picking on her so she told him she needed to bring the break upstairs but would be right back. She did come right back and kicked the crap out of him. She was quite wiry and tough. She didn't have it easy growing up and bounced around between my Aunt and Annie Samone. (Yeah, the guys sister she kicked the crap out of).

She worked in different stores of downtown Newark and hung around with my Aunt Etta. When those two were together you did not want to cross them. My mother was more sensible where my Aunt was a little crazy. She was introduced to a young handsome guy, who kinda looked like me, and married him. As my mom explained it to me, she felt sorry for him and he was also born on June 20, 1924. Easy to remember. After my father got back from the Pacific, they were married on March 11, 1950. My Father got called back during the Korean War and was stationed in Pensacola, Florida where from what I am told she became pregnant with my sister. As again I am told, while my mother was pregnant with my sister, she told my father to get a real job, so he joined the Newark Police Department! My sister was born on August 20, 1952 and she was a beauty. I came along six years later; which my grandmother came to help my mother with me. She stayed another 23 years.

We moved up from Taylor St., to Woodside Ave in North Newark, this was the big times for us. A great neighborhood. My mom stayed home and took care of us and my father rode the horse. Growing up she seemed to read my mind. She caught me every time I did something and she was sneaky about it. She would lure me in, grab me and kick my butt. As we got older she began working at the cafeteria in Good Counsel School. I think she was keeping an eye on me, my sister was no angel either. We had great trips to the Jersey Shore during the summer that I will never forget. Trips to the Dairy Queen on Bloomfield Avenue were a big deal! She began working at the DAV in Belleville's bingo. That's when she met some new running partners, what a crew. My sister got married had a little girl, Andrea, her first grandchild, then came her twins Davey and Thomas. She loved them all dearly. When my father retired, and I moved to Las Vegas, my parents moved to Toms River. She used to call it the next step to the grave since it was a retirement community. She made many friends there, friends from the Newark area that moved there. Mom continued her bingo experience and knew where all the games were. She loved her house and her dogs Bambi and Ginger (her grandchildren).

When my sister became ill she would drive up north and help her out however she could. My sister had her strength and battled many years and my mom was always there for her until she passed. At this time my father started having problems, my mother tried her best to take care of him but it became to much. We decided the only way we could do this is if she moved to Las Vegas. It was tough for my mom to leave New Jersey and all her friends, however I believe she knew there was no other way we could do this. So mom came to Vegas with my father and I had the best time with him until he passed. My mother took great care of him and he would call her his love. While my mom was out here she became very proficient at the buffalo machines and certain other machines. She also got familiar with the bingos and all the valet's knew her and her '92 Buick. While here, she got to know her other grandchildren Anthony and Talia. She would always ask how Anthony was and that he was such a nice boy, and how Talia was so nice and thoughtful. She even liked JJ saying he was very respectful. My mom would mentor my nephew Davey and his girlfriend Amy on the art of Bingo. Which they have become pretty good at.

My mom was pretty straight forward. She would tell you how she felt whether you liked it or not, strong willed. I think she learned most of her slang from the little old ladies at bingo, she could let it go at times. My mom went into the hospital on January 15 for a procedure. She fought a good fight like always, however I believe she was tired and wanted to go home to my father, my sister and her family in New Jersey.

My mom and I are alike in many ways, and at times we clashed however I loved her and I know she loved me. I will make sure my mom and dad get back to New Jersey where they were the happiest. I will always love and miss you, until I see you again.