Mary T. Piombino

Mary was pre-deceased by her father and mother, Louis and Antionette ("Tilly") Piombino, as well as by her older sister, Evelyn P. Morelli, and younger brothers, Pat and Louis Piombino, and her great nephews Dominic L. Coyle and Ross Edlund. She is survived by her dearest younger sister, Elizabeth P. Tenaglio, several of her cousins, her many nieces and nephews, as well as grand nieces and nephews, and several of her lifetime friends.

Mary was born on October 20, 1925 in Devon, PA. She was a long-time resident of Berwyn, PA and was known to many through her church and community connections as well as through her wide-spread family networks. A fiercely strong survivor of a serious and traumatic burn accident when she was a young child, Mary let very little stop her when she put her mind to something. She graduated from T-E High School in 1943 as many of her friends headed off to serve in World War II. She continued her academic pursuits at Drexel University where she studied in their prestigious Nisbet School of Design, eventually and proudly earning her Masters degree from that institution - a rarity for women in that era. Mary went on to establish a thriving career as a Home Economics teacher in middle and high schools from New Jersey and Conshohocken to Downingtown, Quarryville and Lancaster. She eventually became a Department Head and served in that leadership position until she retired from her career in the later 1980s.

Mary was a member of the T-E Alumni Committee and kept in contact with those friends - and even children of those friends - up until the time she died. She was also a member of Soroptimist International - where she endeavored to ensure that women and girls were given access to education and training in service to their personal and collective economic empowerment. Mary also volunteered for many years at the St. Jude Thrift Shop in Berwyn.

Mary held her career in high esteem and made friends - often life-long - at each location where she taught, and she usually held an apartment in close proximity to her workplace. However, she never ventured too far out of the orbit of her home and family. For many, many years, each Friday afternoon after school she would pack up her car and venture back to her home town of Devon - where she resided with her beloved sister, Liz, Liz's husband, “Topper,” and their four children - only to make the sojourn back to her work arena on Sunday night or early on Monday morning. This she did until the later 1980s when she secured her own home in Berwyn, across from her cherished parish, St. Monica.

A seeker by nature, Mary - while never married - took the initiative to travel to many different places - among them her favorites were Italy, Ireland, France and Hawaii. Stalwartly independent, Mary loved interior design, cooking and baking. She was notorious for the various pies - pumpkin, lemon meringue, and coconut custard - that she would share with us for Thanksgiving dinner - even if “the crust just didn’t come out exactly the way I wanted it.” Her culinary talents were, in fact, quite phenomenal. Also known for her acute sewing capacities, Mary would often tailor dresses and skirts not only for herself but for many of her nieces when they were younger. Her generosity of spirit truly knew no bounds. Mary enjoyed summers off at the Jersey shore- sometimes at Stone Harbor, but usually Avalon. Along with her long-time friend, “Tek,” Mary would rent a house for the month of July ("Back Achers" on 13th Street by the beach) - where, after six hours of daily beach time in the sun and surf, “Fuzzy Navels” and various other cocktails and nibbles would be served at 5:00 pm each evening on the deck or screened in porch. It was simply assumed that friends and family would be down at random times through the month - oftentimes more than the domicile could handle, as friends - or friends of friends - or friends of family members - often would show up on the doorstep! They were unfailingly greeted with an open smile. Mary would always make them feel welcome and they knew that at "Aunt Mary's" they had a place to rest their weary (and often aching) heads after a long night at “Jack’s Place” on Ocean Drive. Many stories abound around her times at the shore - when her nieces and nephews would sneak down - far from the eyes of their parents - and spend days at a time in the freedom of the Avalon sun and the fun of the Avalon evenings. We were very fortunate to enjoy such times.

In her later years Mary revelled in trips to Lancaster county with her sisters, Evelyn and Liz, proudly serving on the Altar Guild of St. Monica's - where her design background came in handy - frequenting the “bagel shop” with her local friends, being a participant in Walking with Purpose,” and attempting to discern exactly what was going on in her little neighborhood as she peered out her corner windows - a perfect sentinel for the quiet village of Berwyn. Additionally, she regularly enjoyed simply sitting outside of her home - often on a small garden chair perched between two cars - taking in the sun and conversing with those who would walk by her home with their children or families.

A life long-lived with many many connections, and woven and bound together with so much love, we sadly bid farewell to “Aunt Mary” and pray that we take with us a mere fraction of the love that she showed to our family and to her friends. We all wish you deep peace, Aunt Mary, and we remain open to your continued guidance, humor, and generosity as you travel on without us. Know that we carry you within us always. Lastly, we say "Ah day boogie fa"! (inside joke to her nieces and nephews). We love you forever, Aunt Mary. Thank you for your love, laughter, support, and endlessly funny stories!

A viewing and visitation is scheduled for Saturday morning, August 10, 2024 at St. Monica Church, Berwyn, PA from 9:30am to 11:00 am, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment services held immediately after the funeral mass at St. Augustine Cemetery in King of Prussia, PA.