Maria Giglio

Maria was born in the capital of Sicily, Italy: Palermo. As a child, Maria became captivated with sewing while watching her mother, a dressmaker, produce garments for clients. Maria would often sit under her mother’s sewing machine gathering scraps of fabric to fashion into clothing for her dolls. Maria was still living in Italy when she herself became a dressmaker. At age 18 she moved to New York City to pursue her dream of working as a dressmaker in the United States. Several years went by and then she met Salvatore, who became her husband. Their mutual friends had been planning to set them up and invited them both to a party, yet no introduction was needed as Maria and Salvatore caught sight of each other on the dance floor and, as the saying goes, “the rest is history”.

Along with Salvatore, Maria owned a dressmaking factory in Brooklyn and then later in the Garment District of Manhattan from 1948 through 1982. In addition to the fine garments their factory produced, Maria would make all of her own clothes. She had a variety of passions and hobbies: cooking, enjoying good food and wine, gardening, owning racehorses with her husband, traveling with her family to Europe, vacationing at their home in Greenwood Lake New York, going on trips to Florida and then in the 1980s Maria and Salvatore decided to make Florida their winter home and spend their summers in Greenwood Lake.

Throughout Maria’s life her main loves were her family and hobbies; whether it was gardening or taking up oil painting, Maria had a drive to be creative. She was generous with her talents too. When her professional dressmaking career ended she continued to sew – soon her designs were in demand by relatives and friends. Not only was she capable of constructing beautiful clothing, her pattern making, sewing, and embroidery skills extended to draperies, chaise lounge covers, and more. Maria always needed to be doing something and she remained physically active well into her final years. When she could no longer go for long walks on her own, she’d enjoy sitting outside in the sun.

She is survived by her two devoted children: daughter, Terry Bocchichio; son, John Giglio; and one loving grandson, John Bocchichio as well as her nephews, nieces, and their children. Maria was predeceased by her husband, Salvatore; her parents, Frank and Girolama Bonetti; two brothers, and three sisters.

A memorial service will be held 3:30 p.m. September 23, 2017 at Serenity Funeral Home, Largo, Florida.

In lieu of flowers we encourage you to make a donation (no matter how small) in her memory to either or both of the following organizations:

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/GiftFunds/GiftFunds?px=4690446&pg=personal&fr_id=39300

Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

http://curealz.org/in-memory/maria-giglio

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, Florida 33776 / 727-391-0121