Maria S. Conte

Maria S. Conte (née Suszczyk), age 70, of Marlton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on December 9, 2025.
Maria was predeceased in death by her parents, Teodor and Sofia (née Nikitich) Suszczyk. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Francis. Maria is also survived by her three children: her daughter, Victoria, and her husband, Michael (Fletcher), of Medford, NJ; her son, Nicholas, and his wife, Karla, of Sicklerville, NJ; and her daughter, Alexandra, and her husband, Thomas (Keffer), of Medford, NJ; her eight grandchildren: Andrew, Leonardo, James, Franco, Charlotte, Dante, Olivia, and Thomas, Jr.; and her sister, Helen Geletkanycz (Roman).
The daughter of Teodor and Sofia Suszczyk, Maria was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Estell Manor, New Jersey. She attended Estell Manor Elementary School and Pleasantville High School before attending Rider University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing. Her first semester at Rider, she met the love of her life, Frank. Together, they embarked on a love story that would span over five decades. They were blessed with three children: Victoria, Nicholas, and Alexandra. Maria's role as a mother was one she cherished deeply, and she instilled in her children the values of kindness, hard work, and the importance of family.
Her family was the center of her life, and everything she did revolved around them. She was also blessed with eight grandchildren, and the time she spent with them brought her immeasurable joy. Each grandchild held a special place in "Nanna's" heart, and she reveled in their accomplishments and milestones.
Maria had a passion for the arts and interior design. She created a beautiful and welcoming home where she enjoyed hosting, particularly during the Christmas season, her favorite time of the year. She was a long-standing member of the Walnut Street Theatre, where she and Frank shared countless memorable evenings with family and friends. Traveling was another of Maria's joys, and she and Frank traveled to many places over the years. The Outer Banks in North Carolina was her "happy place", and she loved annual family vacations spent there. Maria had a deep sense of pride in her Ukrainian heritage, and she valued sharing those traditions with her family. Maria also was an active member of the Church of St. Joan of Arc, where she and Frank were involved in the Pre-Cana ministry for nine years. She had a tremendous work ethic, and she truly enjoyed working. Maria held the relationships she built over the years close to her heart, and those deep, lasting relationships helped shape her legacy.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, at the Bradley Funeral Home, 601 Rt. 73 South, Marlton, NJ 08053, and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, at the Church of St. Joan of Arc, 100 Willow Bend Rd., Marlton, NJ 08053. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, 280 Main St., South Bound Brook, NJ 08880.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (www.bcrf.org) and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).