Eva M (Gundrum) DeMaria

Born 3/13/1932 in Budapest Hungary, and died peacefully 3/28/2024, in Columbus, Ohio, surrounded by family.

Eva was born in Budapest, HUNGARY, to Ákos and Margit (Vukalovits) Gundrum Gaty. She married Antonio (Anthony) DeMaria on June 27, 1959.

Eva grew up in Pecs (Tolna) HUNGARY, studying violin, attending the cathedral’s catholic school, and was selected to be on the 1948 Hungarian Olympic gymnastics team. She attended Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Budapest) graduating with a degree in Chemistry. Specializing in dairy chemistry, she was employed by the Dairy Institute in Mosonmagyaróvár.

Eva was part of the underground resistance movement leading up to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, she escaped Hungary in 1952. She lived one year in Austria and spent 2 years in Italy prior to immigrating to the states in April 1955. Sponsored by a family in Northampton PA, Eva trained as a medical technologist at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown PA. It was in Allentown where she met her husband of almost 27 years, Anthony DeMaria. They married in Alpha NJ on 27th of June, 1959 and had 3 children: Marco Antonio (1961); Paolo Antonio (1962); and Bianca Vittoria Margherita DeMaria (1963).

Eva was a devoted wife and mother, she always fondly cherished the early days raising her 3 children: driving them to school, swim team practice, and piano lessons. Along with her late husband Tony, she was dedicated and committed to her family.

Eva worked for a brief time with a private physician’s practice (Reese & Rubinstein) in Westfield NJ; and as an environmental chemist with Commonwealth Laboratories in Greenville SC. She became a certified Master Gardner through Clemson University’s Master Gardner program.

When her husband Tony was diagnosed with cancer in 1982, she cared for him til his death in 1987. In addition to her family life and work, her volunteer activities included the Greenville County Museum of Art, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and the Greenville Literacy Association.

Eva’s passion and joy was her family, cooking, singing in the church choir, gardening, knitting, and listening to classical music. She lived an incredibly full life and always enjoyed hearing about and celebrating the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.

Eva is predeceased by her loving husband, Anthony DeMaria, and sister Piroshka Piovesan (Gundrum). She is also predeceased by her brother and sister-in laws: Francesco (Frank) DeMaria, Jacqueline Campbell DeMaria, Vincenzo (Vincent) DeMaria, Sirio Piovesan, and nephew Silvano Piovesan.

Eva is survived by her son Marco (Jennifer) DeMaria, Greenville, South Carolina; son Paolo (Patricia) DeMaria and daughter Bianca DeMaria, Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Sara DeMaria, Hayward, Wisconsin; Tristan DeMaria, Columbus, Ohio; Victoria DeMaria and David DeMaria, Greer, South Carolina; Great-Grandchildren, Gianna Hughes and Luke Hughes, Greer, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews including Eva Piovesan (Italy).

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at The Villas of St. Therese, The Bickford of Bexley, and Genitiva Hospice for the love, support and care they have given to Eva and our family over the years, especially during the pandemic. It is appreciated more than you know.

Funeral mass will be held Monday, April 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm at St Francis of Assisi Church in Victorian Village, Columbus Ohio.