Obituary of Maria Ciardullo

Maria Ciardullo, née Bruno, 90, of Brooklyn, NY, died of natural causes at Mount Sinai Brooklyn Hospital on March 24, 2020.

Maria was born on October 31, 1929, in Dipignano, Calabria, Italy. In 1951, she married and moved to Brooklyn where she would live, raise her family, and try to overfeed everyone for almost seven decades. Maria will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend to many.

She was a devout Catholic and parishioner at the Church of St. Thomas Aquinas in Flatlands. A legend in her own time, she was unforgettable to all who knew her. Everyone she met has a great story to share about her. We will never forget her twinkling eyes and mischievous smile or how much she loved us.

Maria is predeceased by her husband Alfonso Ciardullo, Jr.; parents Salvatore and Letizia Bruno; brothers Pasquale (Elvira) Bruno and Italo Bruno; and niece Jean Marie Bruno. Surviving are her children Mary (James) Kelly of Hilton Head Island, SC, and Vincent Ciardullo of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren Christine McCarthy of Boston, MA, James McCarthy (Phoebe Stonebraker) of Manhattan, NY, and Alexandra Ciardullo of Baltimore, MD; sister-in-law Marjorie Bruno Lucero; nieces Silvana (Anthony) Perri, Maria (Geoffrey) Gourley, Letizia Lili (Richard) Randazzo; and nephew Salvatore Bruno.

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic safety restrictions, the funeral at Marine Park Funeral Home and burial at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY, on March 27, 2020, will be private. A celebration of life will be scheduled after the pandemic has ended. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to World Central Kitchen.