Maria Gagliano (nee Martorana), 97, of Bloomfield, passed away on April 17, in her home surrounded by family. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 24 at Our Lady of The Lake Church in Verona. Interment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Visitation to be held Sunday, April 23 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove Street, Montclair.
Born in Tiffin, Ohio, Maria moved to Bagheria, Sicily at the age of 2, only to return to Newark, New Jersey in 1948. She then moved to Bloomfield in 1960. Upon coming from Italy she worked at Liberty Optical in Newark and as a seamstress for several years. She then owned Mary & Dom’s Family Clothing Center in Bloomfield with her husband Dominick for 17 years before closing the store in 1980. Maria was an amazing seamstress, enjoyed her garden, and loved to cook for her family.
She was predeceased by her husband Dominick in 2006, and was the devoted mother of John and his wife Kathleen, Paul and his wife Tara, Dominick and his wife Debra, and Madilene (Duwal) and her husband Stanley. She is survived by her brothers Michael and Joseph Martorana, and sister Santa Buttitta; also nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her brothers Rosario and Gino Martorana, and sisters Catherine Camilleri and Lena Rizzo.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or Autism Speaks at autismspeaks.org.
