Maria Theresa Citarella

Maria Citarella (DiFiore) age 84 of Red Bank and Greenacres, Fla. Passed away at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family, after an extraordinary 4 year battle with lung cancer. Maria was born in Red Bank, NJ December 14, 1937.She was predeceased by her parents Laurence and Angela DiFiore, her brother Larry DiFiore and the love of her life, husband, Andrew Citarella. Maria was devoted to her family. She loved cooking for them, her friends and for hundreds of others at her and Andrew’s family business, Citarella’s Market. She loved dancing, technology, throwing parties, pool days and Florida visits from her grandchildren! In her 40’s she took up golf (after her husband bet a friend that she could beat his wife) and found she loved it even more than going to casinos, with better results. She was in women’s golf leagues, serving as president, had a hole in one and was a club champion at Old Orchard Country Club. She was sweet, determined, hardworking, kind, spunky, loads of fun and loved by everyone who knew her. She was the mother everyone wished they had, welcoming all her children and grandchildren’s friends. She will be painfully missed by her devoted daughter Angela (Nelson) and husband Tony Liberatore, Little Silver. Her loving sons Ralph Citarella and wife Jeanne, Howell and Andrew Citarella, Eatontown, the joys of her life, grandchildren Maria Pollard and husband Lee, Jennifer Nelson, Christina Friscia and husband Thomas and Julia Nelson and fiancé Lindsay Martorana, and the five sweethearts that gave her the fortitude to keep going, great-grandchildren Wesley, Lucia, Cecilia Pollard and Claira and Thomas Friscia. Visitation will be Thurs. March 3, 4-8pm at John E. Day Funeral Home 85 Riverside Ave, Red Bank,. Funeral services will be Fri. Mar 4, 9:30 at St. Anthony’s Church, 121 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank. Donations can be made in Maria’s name to St. Jude Hospital, Save the Children or Glioblastoma Foundation.
Please visit Maria’s memorial website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com

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