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Maria (née Montano) Girardi, 100, of Bloomfield, beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2020, at West Caldwell Care Center where she resided for the past year. Maria was born on November 21, 1919, in the beautiful, hill town of San Fele in Basilicata, Italy. She was married at the age of 19 to Mauro Girardi and gave birth to nine children by age 36.
In 1959, one year after her husband moved to America,with their eldest children, Maria made this week-long journey alone, speaking no English, and leaving her parents and everything she knew in Italy to make a better life for her family. She was a courageous and brave woman.
Maria immediately fell in love with American culture of the 1960s. Despite initially not knowing the language, Maria was able to successfully integrate into American life while raising her children. In 1967 the family moved from Newark, NJ to Bloomfield, NJ.
Maria was an amazing cook, and preparing homemade meals for her family was one of her favorite ways to show her love for them; Sunday dinners were particularly special. Maria also spent time in her vegetable garden, tending to her roses and other flowers while chatting with neighbors. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and hosting friends and family. She also enjoyed watching TV and following the storylines of her favorite soap operas. She looked forward to the holidays, especially Christmas, and loved making homemade cookies, pasta, and other Italian delicacies.
She was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, whom she adored and loved spending time with. She almost never missed a wedding, a birthday, a christening, a confirmation, or a graduation party of any grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
Maria was always soft-spoken, gentle, and mild-tempered. She remained composed throughout life’s journey and always had a smile on her face. A true matriarch, she was a source of light and strength for her family throughout the ups and downs of life.
Maria leaves behind her six children: Josephine Andriaccio, Lucy Napolitano, and her husband, Carmine; Angelina Nigro and husband, Vito; Geraldine Macaluso and husband, Anthony; Antonio Girardi and wife, Cindy; Rosetta Collins and husband, Tom.
She also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Anthony, RoseAnn, Lisa, Michael, Stefanie, Michalina, Christina, Lauren, Thomas, and 12 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends in Italy and around the world.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 80 years, Mauro Girardi, her parents Vincenzo and Lucia (née Pascale) Montano, and siblings Rosa, Vito, and Francesco. She was preceded in death by her two firstborn sons who died in infancy, her son Vincenzo and wife, Jean Marie, son-in-law Antonio Andriaccio, two grandsons, Frank Napolitano and Anthony Girardi, and her grandson-in-law, Sergio Sanzari.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity or to Alzheimer's New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., No. 203, Roseland, N.J. 07068.
Riposa In Pace Eterna,
Maria
