

Maria was born in Bronte, Sicily on September 24, 1931 to the late Nunziato Spitaleri and Angelina Napoli Spitaleri. She was predeceased by her brother Joseph, who died as an infant in Sicily, her husband Antonio “Nino” Ronsivalle, and her brothers-in-law Vincent Russo of St. Petersburg FL and Don Olkowski of Baltimore.
Maria was the second of six siblings. She grew up in Sicily, where she was able to attend school until the third grade when World War II disrupted her education. She learned to sew at the Mother of the Rosary convent. Maria was married on May 15, 1952 at the Iglesia Madre in Bronte, the church where she was baptized. Maria and her family came to the United States in 1958, settling in Baltimore. After the untimely death of her husband, leaving her a widow with two children, Maria worked as a seamstress in Baltimore.
Maria was a devoted sister, wife, mother, aunt, godmother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was loved and admired by everyone who had the good fortune to meet her. She was a woman of great faith and perseverance who never allowed hardships to get in her way. She was skilled with a needle and thread, was a great gardener, could get the most colicky infant to fall asleep instantly in her arms. She was an incredibly talented cook and nobody ever left her table hungry. She loved to walk and to knit and to watch old movies and to sing.
Maria is survived by her two children, Carmela (Ron) Gorub of Bel Air and Dr. Joseph (Karen) Ronsivalle of Elmira, New York; five grandchildren Joshua (Mesa) Gorub , Christiana Gorub , Nino Ronsivalle, Katie Ronsivalle, and Caroline Ronsivalle; and four great-grandchildren Victor, Giada, Santino, and Vincenzo. Maria is also survived by her siblings: Nancy Russo, Salvatore (Giulia) Spitaleri, Alfredo Spitaleri, all of St Petersburg FL and Gina Olkowski of Baltimore, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center for their dedication and compassionate care of mom for the last several years.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10:00 AM at St. Margaret Catholic Church, where family will receive friends from 9:30 AM- 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Rd. Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093. Online tributes may be left at www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com.
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Alzheimer's Association1850 York Rd. Suite D, Timonium, Maryland 21093
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