Maria Rita (Grippa) Caiazzo

Maria Rita Grippa Caiazzo, 84, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 11, 2012, with family by her side, at Cedars Nursing home in Portland. She was born September 8, 1927 in Naples, Italy, the daughter of Genardo and Anna Laino Grippa. After surviving World War II, she came to America on a Troop Ship in 1945, leaving her parents and siblings behind. Speaking not a word of English, Maria was hired as a waitress at Vallee’s Steakhouse, where her sweet smile and charming personality made up for her lack of English vocabulary. The customers loved her; one in particular, Vito L. Caiazzo Jr., fell in love with her spitfire personality and Italian accent, and married her shortly thereafter.

Together they owned and operated Vito’s Italian Bakery, while they raised four boys. While her husband ran the business, Maria was the heart of the bakery. People gravitated toward her huge heart and beautiful smile every Sunday morning, when they would open the bakery to sell pizza and bread. She also worked at Fairchild Semiconductor for 14 years, until she was able to stop working to focus primarily on being a Grandmother, and those Sunday mornings at Vito’s, of course.

Maria had a huge heart of gold, and everyone who knew her adored her outgoing personality, beautiful smile and positive attitude. She was extremely caring and nurturing, and was always surrounded by her family and friends. She cherished spending time with her family, and spent countless afternoons gathered around the dining room table, in their beautiful home in Falmouth, enjoying her home made Italian cooking. Her recipes remain in our family just as her love remains in our hearts.

Besides her parents and husband, Maria is predeceased by her two sisters; Carmella and Gilda Grippa, two brothers; Giuseppe and Vingenzo Grippa and two sons; Dominic and John. She is survived by her brother, Genardo Grippa, of Naples, Italy; two sons; Vito L. Caiazzo III and his wife Kathleen, of Portland, and Genard Stover and his wife Marguerite of Point Pleasant, NJ; 9 Grandchildren; 7 Great Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews from Italy.

Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation Wednesday February 15, 2012 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford St. Portland.

Prayers will be recited Thursday 10:15a.m. at the funeral home followed by an 11a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peters Roman Catholic Church 72 Federal St. Portland

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery South Portland at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004 www.jdrf.org

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Maria’s guestbook.