Ernestina DiRoma

November 22, 1937 - December 25, 2022

It is with a grievous heart that we share the news of the passing through heaven's gates of our beloved mother, Ernestina Di Roma, (Mima, Tina, Mama Di Roma) on Sunday, December 25, 2022. She was welcomed home by God on the most wonderful day of the year. A celebration of light, life and the birth of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may not be sad, but instead rejoice. She was 85 years old.

A gathering of friends & family for Ernestina will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, Florida 33461, followed by a celebration of life service at 2:00 PM.

She is survived by her children Mark, Paula, Dorothea, Rick; Her grandchildren Daniella, Mark II, Annamaria, Selis; Her great grandchildren Thais and Thalia; Her brothers Mimmo, Carmine; Her sisters Ester, Ada, Carmela, and Santina. She will be greatly missed.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dorsey-smithmemorygardens.com for the Di Roma family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Ernestina Di Roma was born in Brusciano, a province of Naples, Italy on November 22, 1937; the second daughter of Michela and Maria Maritato. The Maritato's, a family of 10, relocated to Rome, Italy where Ernestina resided most of her adolescent life. She met her husband, Americo "Rick" Di Roma in Rome, Italy, and they were married on June 29, 1960 in Rome and eventually moved to Bronx, N.Y. They had three children, Mark, Paula, and Ricky. In 1969, the family moved from the Bronx to Huntington, Long Island, where they created a beautiful family life. She survived the loss of her husband in 1979, and raised her three children on her own. She put all three children through college and dedicated her life to her family, for her life was all about family. She became a private cook for the priests of St. Patrick's Church in Huntington for 20 years, where she was able to combine her passion for cooking and her love and devotion to God. She had very strong spiritual beliefs. She later moved from New York to Boynton Beach, Florida to be close to her family who had already relocated. She worked in the bakery for Publix Supermarkets for the next 25 years and quickly became known as the "cookie lady". She dedicated her life to serving others and setting an example by doing God's work through her actions. She was hardworking, spiritual, loving, caring, and a dedicated mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. We are heartbroken by this loss; However, having left us on Christmas Day, we will be forever reminded to celebrate her life with our family and friends.