Dessa Maria Marasco
March 12, 1938 - January 20, 2025
Dessa Maria Marasco, 86, of Chicago, passed away peacefully in her home on January 20, 2025, surrounded by family, just one day shy of her 60th wedding anniversary.
Dessa Maria, known to most as Maria, was born in Rogliano, Calabria Province, Italy, to Francesco and Maria Gabriele Altomare in 1938. A woman of remarkable strength and resilience, Maria's life was dedicated to her family. After losing her mother at the young age of 12, Maria left school to help raise her younger brothers, Gioacchino and Aldo, alongside her sister, Pina.
Almost taking vows to be a nun, Maria’s life changed forever upon meeting an American tracing his Italian roots. This man, Michael Marasco, became the love of her life. Love undeterred by distance, Maria and Mike married after a year of exchanging love letters and honeymooned until Maria obtained her visa to come to the United States, where their deep love and dedication to each other grew for almost 60 years. Mike and Maria were the American dream. Together they created and nurtured a beautiful life together, with their two sons, Michael and Anthony.
Maria was a force of nature and an example of strength and perseverance. Small in stature but enormous in spirit, Maria was the matriarch who brought everyone together, hosting family celebrations and preparing wonderful home cooked meals that not only fed the body but warmed the soul. She lived for her family, expressing love through her cooking and fierce protection of her loved ones. Despite having to leave school at 12 years old and knowing no English when she arrived in the United States, Maria learned English, received her GED and quietly showed all who knew her what hard work and dedication looked like. Maria taught her sons how to honor and respect not only their families, but all people. Maria's boundless love was present in everything she did. Maria's greatest love was often found in the smallest moments; a shared kiss, a mischievous smile, playing soccer with and singing to her grandchildren at every opportunity, baking trays of cookies that cannot be replicated (despite valiant efforts). Even when dementia took away her ability to speak or recognize those she loved, she continued to express her love through kisses until her final days.
Maria is preceded in death by her dear husband, Michael Marasco, and their beloved son, Anthony Marasco. She is survived by her siblings: Pina Coscarelli, Arnaldo Altomare (Marisa), and Gioacchino Altomare (Sara); her son, Michael Marasco (Lesli); and daughter-in-law, Amanda Moressi. She was the devoted grandmother to Sophia, Andrew, Isa, and Lena, the proud aunt of many nieces and nephews, and a loving cousin to her extended family in Italy and America.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 25th at 10:00 AM at St. Paul of the Cross Church, 320 S. Washington Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068. The service will be live-streamed on the St. Paul of the Cross YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@StPauloftheCrossChurch/streams
Following the service, burial will take place at Queen of Heaven Christ the King Mausoleum, 1400 South Wolf Rd., Hillside, IL 60162. The burial will be live-streamed via Zoom at approximately 11:40 AM after the procession from the church. Friends and family are invited to attend both in person or virtually. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82993647562?pwd=n4rH1jrwCPXPD9nOcaUNCiIutQw9TG.1#success
A luncheon will follow the burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Maria’s memory be made to the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Chicago- https://www.catholiccharities.net/
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to her dedicated caregivers, Dorothy, Lina, Galyna, Erica, Anna and the Transitions Hospice team, whose support allowed Maria to spend her final years comfortably in her cherished home.
Maria’s love and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.