Maria Corrado

Maria Santoro Corrado, born April 4, 1940, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on August 16, 2025. Maria spent her final days resting at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Maria was born in the small southern Italian town of Castelfranci (Provence of Avellino), to Rosina Minetti Santoro and Luigi Santoro. She was the third of six children: Antonio (†), Davide (†), Victoria, Rita (†), and Benito. Maria married her beloved husband, Luigi Corrado, on January 16, 1960, and together they raised four sons: Angelo (Pam), Piero (Dina), Sandro (Hristina), and Maurizio.

Luigi and Maria first emigrated to Germany in the early 1960s, and later to the United States in 1974, where they settled near relatives in Lansdale, PA. They enjoyed over 60 years of marriage before Luigi's passing in September 2021.

Maria was an incredibly hard worker, beginning her life of labor at a tender young age. She helped her father in his aggregate supply business by shoveling gravel from the nearby riverbed into mule buckets, which were then delivered to local masons and builders. After immigrating to America, her tireless work ethic continued. While her husband worked long hours as a mason, Maria took on demanding jobs in local clothing mills and plastic molding factories to help support the family. She woke early each morning and returned home by mid-afternoon, just in time to prepare the daily meals for her growing household.

Maria's love and true passion was caring for her family - most deeply expressed through her extraordinary cooking. She was an artist of traditional Southern Italian cuisine, preparing beloved dishes passed down through generations: chicken cutlets, sausage and peppers, eggplant parmigiana, roasted rabbit, veal specialties, and fresh summer salads. Her personal favorite was always pasta, which she often made fresh - from flour to dough - cutting, rolling, and shaping it by hand into fusilli, cavatelli, and her signature macaronata (thick-cut homemade spaghetti).

Maria was also the #1 fan of her sons' sports teams, rarely missing a game. Friends still remember hearing her enthusiastic cheers from the sidelines: "Everybody in the West, Lansdale Catholic is the best!" Whether it was baseball, football, or soccer, Maria cheered with heart and soul.

Another of Maria's great passions was dancing and singing. She and Luigi loved dancing together and even participated in dance competitions during their younger years in Italy. Their chemistry on the dance floor was unforgettable - especially at their 50th wedding anniversary, when they wowed guests by gracefully gliding to waltzes and tangos, as if no time had passed at all. Maria also loved to sing. Her voice would often ring out at weddings, parties, and family gatherings, where she sang favorite Italian songs with joy and pride. She especially loved chanting church hymns in honor of her beloved Blessed Mother Maria. Many can still hear her voice during the summer procession of Santa Maria del Soccorso, the patron saint of Castelfranci.

Maria will forever be remembered for the deep love and immense pride she held for her family. That bond was made clear by the fact that all four of her sons, along with many family members, were by her side when she passed. Her love extended to the family she helped build. She developed strong relationships with each of her daughters-in-law - Pam, Dina, and Hristina - each one unique in the way only a loving Italian mother-in-law can express.

Maria embraced her cherished role as "Nonna," becoming the proud matriarch of a growing family. She is survived by eight grandchildren: Shena Hesselbein (Brad), Jo Wilde (Chris), Angela Dietrich (Tyler), Annamaria Leib (Nicholas), Luigi Nicholas (Samantha), Natalie Sowden (Anthony), Nastassja, and Luigi Stefano. She was also blessed with four great-grandchildren: Parker Wilde, Sammy Hesselbein, Weston Wilde, and William Leib.

Her family, friends, and all those fortunate enough to know her will remember Maria's hearty laugh, her unforgettable sayings, and - of course - the full hearts and full stomachs they left her table with.

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation on Saturday, August 23, 2025 from 9:30AM until 10:45AM at St. Stanislaus Church, 51 Lansdale, PA 19446, followed by her funeral mass at 11:00AM. Interment at St. John Neumann Cemetery, 3797 County Line Road, Chalfont, PA 18914.