Maria (D’Emilio) Fioritt
Maria (D’Emilio) Fioritto 94 of Oregon, Ohio passed away peacefully April 28, 2020 in the company of her collection of angels she kept in her room, while listening to her favorite Italian music. She was born in Ceccano, Italy, Province of Frosinone on August 19, 1925 to Antonio and Felicia (Massa) D’Emilio.
She survived World War II under the protection of her mother and family in Italy. She departed Naples, Italy along with her mother and brother on April 10, 1947 and arrived in New York on April 28th to be reunited with her father after greater than 10 years apart. The voyage was long due to the cargo ship (Marine Shark) having to dodge mines remaining from WWII. Despite not knowing English, she began work at St Vincent Hospital as a cook shortly after arriving in the US. Maria also worked at a temporary Army Depot in Rossford sorting military ammunition. While attending the International Institute to learn English and preparing to become a US citizen, she met her future husband Giuseppe (Joe) Fioritto. They were later married on July 30, 1949. Giuseppe (Joe) and Maria raised three children together: Frank, Rita, and Michael. She taught her children “broken” English and learned how to read and write. After raising her children, she began work as a seamstress with Elizabeth Jean working on wedding dresses and Lion Store (Dillard’s), on men’s attire. She loved to cook and entertain anyone who walked through her door, hungry or not you had to eat before leaving. Her philosophy in life was “we live to eat, not eat to live”. One of her key phrases she lived by is that “fruit doesn’t make you full” to encourage others to eat more. As a true Italian, she would always pinch your cheeks. She made a point to be present at all family gatherings no matter how small or far. She shared her life experiences from her early years in Italy with her grandchildren in grade school classrooms bringing along homemade Italian treats. Her hobbies were cooking, sewing, canning, gardening, dancing, traveling and telling her children what to do no matter how old they were! She was an active member of the Alba Club and Red Hat Society and a Eucharistic Minister at Epiphany of the Lord Church. Religion and her family were her life. Due to her enthusiastic and lively personality, she was considered the matriarch of the family and will be dearly missed.
Maria is preceded in death by her husband Giuseppe (Joe) Fioritto. She is survived by her brother Gabriele (Giovanna) D’Emilio. Children, Frank (Michele) Fioritto, Rita (Robert II) Ehmann and Michael (Jama) Fioritto. Nonna to her grandchildren Nikk (Brandi) Fioritto, Tony (Shauna) Fioritto, Vince Fioritto, Robert Ehmann III, Nathan (Sara) Ehmann, Natasha (Jeff) Perry, Jessica (Jake) Cowell, Rachel (Derek Waggoner) Fioritto and Felicia Fioritto. Big Nonna to great grandchildren Joseph “Pino” and Michael Fioritto; Audrey, Gabriella, and Robert IV Ehmann; Addyson, Easton, Jaxon Ehmann; Morgan, Kiara, Eliana Perry; and soon arriving baby Cowell expected November 2020. She was adored and will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Due to the current pandemic conditions, Maria’s Family wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers at this time. Private family visitation and funeral services were held. Entombment took place at Restlawn Memorial Park. Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at Epiphany of the Lord St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Maria’s memory are asked to consider Epiphany of the Lord St. Thomas Aquinas Education Endowment Fund or to Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Assisting with Arrangements Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Homes. To leave something on their tribute wall, you may visit their website, https://www.egglestonmeinert.com/obituaries/Maria-Fioritto?obId=12804750#/obituaryInfo.