Rose Margaret DeSantis MD

R. Margarita De Santis, M.D., 79, of Orange, passed away at Saint Barnabas Medical Center on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Her family will receive friends at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave., on Friday, 4-7 PM. The Blessing Service will be at the funeral home on Saturday at 9:45 AM followed by the committal service at St. John’s Cemetery, Orange. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Way, Memphis, TN 38105.

She was born Orange where she spent her entire life. An Honor Student at Orange High School, she was awarded a scholarship to Upsala College, East Orange where she graduated Magnum Cum Laude. She graduated from New York Medical College and after several residencies; she set up a pediatric practice in Orange for 40 years caring for generations of children.

Margarita was a member of the AMA, Medical Society of New Jersey as well as many other medical societies and specialty boards. She also served as a Delegate to the Medical Society of N.J. from 1975 to 1979 and was Councilor to the Essex County Medical Society from 1975 to 1977. In 1973 she received the Woman of the Year Award for community service by the Alberonese Social Club and 1977 Woman of the Year for her dedication to St. Mary’s Hospital by the Auxiliary of St. Mary’s Hospital.

Margarita was the beloved daughter of the late Michael and Philomena (Petrucelli) DeSantis and loving sister of Joseph N. De Santis and Rose DiBenedetto; she was also dear aunt of Michael De Santis and Linda De Santis, Cathy Sullivan and husband Tom, John DiBenedetto and wife Beth and also survived by many loving great nieces and nephews.