Visiting: Friday (6/15) 2-4 & 7-9 PM
Mass: Saturday (6/16) 10:30 AM @ Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Cemetery: Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn, NY)

-   -   -   COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING AVAILABLE   -   -   -

Maria was born on October 9, 1920 in Cranston, Rhode Island, the first born child of Carmela Iannuzzi & Biagio Vicidomini, immigrants from Monte di Procida Napoli Italia.  When Maria was four years old, her Mother died of TB and her Dad returned to Italy with Maria and her younger sister.  Maria grew up in Italy and met her future husband Antonio Colandrea when she was 18 years old.  They dated for four years and married during the height of WW II in 1942.

During the war and post war years, she had three daughters in Italy:  Letizia, Carmela & Margaret.  In those difficult years after the Second World War, they decided to immigrate to the United States in 1953 and settled back in Cranston, Rhode Island.  For better work opportunities, Maria and her family moved to Red Hook Brooklyn settling on Van Brunt Street.  Antonio became a longshoreman and a few years later sustained an injury and he was forced to change his career.  Maria and Antonio together learned the Pizzeria business and they opened Tommy's Pizzeria in Sunset Park.  This wonderful local establishment remained opened for over 30 years.

In 1959 they returned to Italy as a family for the first time and nine months later their last daughter Rosa was born in Brooklyn.  Soon thereafter, they purchased the building on 6th Avenue housing the Pizzeria, where Maria lived and remained for just under 60 years.

For the last six decades Maria Colandrea, a devout Catholic, was an active parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help RC Church.  Maria departed this world on the Feast of Saint Anthony, June 13, 2018.  She is survived by her four daughters, five grandchildren: Luisa Maria (Mark), Vincenzo, Andrew, Christopher (Katharine) & Jillian and four great grandchildren.