Marie A. Schiavone

July 6, 1937 - September 15, 2025

Marie Schiavone, 88 of Park Ridge, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at HMH/Pascack Valley Hospital on September 15, 2025, having been surrounded by her family during her illness.

Born July 6, 1937, in New York City, she was raised in East Harlem on 120th Street between East River Drive and Pleasant Avenue. She was predeceased by her parents, Frances (Staffa, 1996) and Michael J. LaVista (1985); and her sister Joann Giovinco (2011).

Marie attended PS 78 grammar school on Pleasant Ave, Central Commercial High School on 42nd Street and played softball and basketball. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

On October 20, 1956, at Holy Rosary Church, Marie joined in marriage with her beloved husband Thomas Gaetano Schiavone. Their love story began in the East Harlem neighborhood, growing up only two blocks apart. In 1955, Tom escorted Marie to her senior prom held at the iconic Copacabana; the following day, the beautiful couple's photograph was featured in the New York Daily News. After their wedding, they moved to their “honeymoon apartment” in New Milford, NJ, and as their family grew, they settled in Park Ridge, NJ, where they have lived for the last 55 years.

Marie is survived by her husband, Tom (90), and their three children, Donna Schiavone and wife Kelly Smith, Karen and husband Daniel Tintle, Thomas Schiavone and wife Elaine; and her nephews Michael Giovinco and husband John, Joseph Giovinco and wife Patricia. She was a devoted grandmother to Daniel Tintle and wife Jessie Mills, Gina Tintle and husband Thomas Fraser, Travis Chapman and partner Annie West, Kasey Schiavone and partner Stancy, Sabrina Chapman and husband Ben Sherman, Nicole Tintle and husband Jesse Fixelle, and Jaclyn Schiavone and fiancé James Hunt; and great-grandmother to Daniel Gaetano and Zoey Anne Tintle, and Wesley Goodwin Fraser. She also leaves behind dear cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Marie worked as a secretary for a carpeting company in Manhattan and continued working in Woodcliff Lake Public Schools as a secretary. Before retirement, she also worked in a day care center. Marie had a passion for sports, was a dedicated fan of the New York Yankees and Rangers and enjoyed watching professional tennis. She loved being with her family, enjoyed cooking and baking, and had a favorite past time of birdwatching. She was a music lover, her favorite singer being Frank Sinatra. Marie enjoyed art in all mediums, especially Broadway shows and annual trips to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Marie and Tom spent many vacations traveling the world with their children and grandchildren. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family, wherever they went. Her family will miss her beyond words.

A wake will be held on Wednesday, September 24 from 5-9pm at Becker Funeral Home (219 Kinderkamack Rd, Westwood, NJ). A funeral Mass celebrating Marie’s life will take place Thursday September 25 at 10am, St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church (69 Valley St, Hillsdale, NJ), followed by interment at Westwood Cemetery.

In Marie’s memory, the family requests donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Garden of Dreams Foundation.