Maria Teresa (Bilotta) Pizzonia

Maria Teresa (Bilotta) Pizzonia, 95, beloved wife of the late Frank Pizzonia for 70 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Maria was born in Francavilla, Calabria Italy on March 11, 1921 and was the daughter of the late Antonio and Concetta (Lecce) Bilotta. She married Frank in 1946 and had three children in Italy before immigrating to America in 1955, where her brothers and parents already lived. She had three more children in America and raised them in traditional Italian style; family, food and love played a huge role in her life for her 95 years. Everyone was welcome at her table and there was nobody who said no when Maria offered them food whether it was a neighbor, a child or grandchild. The relationship she and Frank shared taught all of us what it meant to love, they taught us that it didn’t matter who or what you were it was your actions that were important. Maria lived in Hartford for most of her life and loved walking around little Italy. She lived in Albuquerque, NM and has spent the last years of her life in College Station, TX enjoying family. She is survived with love by her six children and their spouses: Rachele Pizzonia and Bobby Scrivener; Connie Pizzonia and Charlie Kistler; Vincent and Melanie Pizzonia; Anna and Charlie Shaskus; Teresa Pizzonia; Lucy and Tony Shaskus; Herb Kammel; Vincent Peterson. She also leaves behind their families: her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Sandra and David Karkoska, Julie and Brad Diggins; Frank Shaskus; Jessica and Shawn Goins; Bryce Pizzonia; Julie Pizzonia; Justin and Lydia Pizzonia; James and Shannon Shaskus; Charles Shaskus; Anthony Shaskus and Jessica Goldenberg, Danielle Peterson and Gregory Shaskus. Her great grandchildren, Paul Karkoska; Savannah Karkoska, Sebastian Shaskus, Kylie Pizzonia, Mason Pizzonia, Luke Diggins, Isabella Goins, Jackson Diggins, Simon Shaskus, Charlie Goins; Reed Pizzonia; Michael Justin Pizzonia; Alexander Goins; Anna Sophia Goins; Vance Pizzonia; and Ransom Pizzonia. She is also survived by her brother, Al Bilotta and numerous nieces and nephews and friends who will miss her smiling face and loving presence. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Frank and his wife Luisa Bilotta and her sister-in-law, Angie Bilotta; they are waiting for her with open arms to come and make them a big dinner like she used to do every Sunday.

Calling hours are Saturday from 8:30-10 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Church, 10 Campfield Ave., Hartford. Entombment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. To share a memory of Maria with her family, please visit www.desopo.com.