Maria Valentino DeMatteo

SCHENECTADY—Maria Valentino DeMatteo, 81, of Foster Avenue, went home to be with Jesus and the Blessed Mother on Sunday, after a short illness. Maria was born and educated in Alvignano, Province of Caserta, Italy, a daughter of the late Nicola and Michelina Corniello Valentino. Maria relocated to France, where she worked for the Ambassador at the American Embassy. She then moved to Ottawa, Canada where she lived for a short time before immigrating to Schenectady in 1954, where she met her husband Louis DeMatteo. She was a cook at the family business, DeMatteo’s Grill and she always helped everyone. Maria was a devoted Catholic; she attended daily Mass and prayed the Rosary everyday, she organized pilgrimages to Holy sites throughout the U.S. and Canada. She was a faithful communicant of St. Anthony’s Church, where she sang in the choir since 1954, a member of its Sacred Heart League as well as a member of the former Madonna della Libera Society. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Louis DeMatteo, whom she married on November 4, 1957 and he died on October 9, 2010; and a sister-in-law, Maria Valentino. Survivors include her adoring children, Anita and her husband Eugene Sinigalliano, of Rexford and Dean DeMatteo of Clifton Park; a devoted grandson, James Sinigalliano; siblings, Antonietta and Americo Paniccia of Schenectady, Girolama Valentino of Delanson, Luigi and Alfonzina Valentino of Alvignano, Italy, Vittorio and Esterina Valentino of Amsterdam, Aldo and Anna Maria Valentino of Guilderland and Rosa and Alberto Mastroianni of Schenectady; many dear nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 11 am from the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home, Union at N. Jay Street and then to St. Anthony’s Church, 331 Seward Place, where a Mass will be con-celebrated at 12 Noon. Interment to follow in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Glenville. The recitation of the Most Holy Rosary will begin promptly at 9:00 am, to which relatives and friends are invited to participate, followed by a period of calling at the Rossi & Ditoro Funeral Home from 9:30 to 11am. Memorial contributions may be made in Maria’s memory to St. Anthony’s Church, 331 Seward Place, Schenectady, NY 12305 or EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210 or the Auriesville Shrine, 136 Shrine Rd., Fultonville, NY 12016. For more information and directions please visit www.rossiditorofuneralhome.com.

Maria Valentino DeMatteo

December 19, 1929 - December 19, 2010