Marie Lucille Lombardo Maisano

Marie was born in Brooklyn, New York to Diego and Rosalia Lombardo on December 26, 1922. She was the 3rd born child of 6 children. She had 3 brothers, Pete, Frank and Joe lombardo and 2 sisters, Sadie Ciuffo and Stella Spate. All of her siblings predeceased her.

In 1947 the entire family packed up and left Brooklyn, NY and moved to San Diego, CA. Her married siblings picked up stakes as well and came to a new frontier in the undeveloped west. Marie met the love of her life, Sicilian born, Vincenzo Maisano in 1950 through mutual friends of her parents. Vincenzo was visiting his eldest sister, Caterina Dichiara of El Cajon at the time they met. Vincenzo and Marie married on April 8, 1951. They spent 46 wonderful years together until Vincenzo passed in 1997. Their years together were spent working very hard in this new land of opportunity. They enjoyed the fruits of their labor and a comfortable life in their later years.

They traveled to Sicily to meet Vincenzo's family in 1968 and to visit the small town where he was born, Piana degli Albanesi. Marie soldiered on for 18 years after Vencenzio's death and continued to be a strong, successful, and vibrant woman. At the age of 90 she decided it was time to move into an assisted living facility where she thrived and made many new friends. The last few months of her life became increasingly difficult as she lost her mobility and was diagnosed with dementia.

Marie is surived by her daughter Angela Avitt (Mike Avitt) of El Cajon and her granddaughter Tiffany Avitt of San Diego. Her first born granddaughter, Rosemarie LoMedico passed away in 1984. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws Betty Lombardo of El Cajon and Anna Maisano of Palermo, Sicily, many nieces and nephews, extended family members (Leggio's, Gjata's, Galasso's) as well as her Godchildren, Josephine Vitale, Norman Leggio, and Michael Lombardo.

A Rosary will be recited at El Cajon Mortuay on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. with visittation from 5:30-9:00 p.m.and her Mass of Christian Burial will be at the Holy Cross Mausoleum Chapel on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. Entombment will follow immediately after the mass.

Marie will be deeply missed by her family and friends.