Mary C. DiGaetano

Mary C. DiGaetano (née Lombardi) was born Maria Concetta on October 24, 1930, to Paolo and Nicoletta Lombardi in Passaic, NJ.
Mary was affectionately known as Mary Di, Momma Di, Madre Generale, Grandma, Grams, and Mima. On May 13, 1951, she married the love of her life, Joseph DiGaetano, Jr., and they spent 25 loving years together until his passing in 1976.
Mary was a resident of Passaic for 70 years, Nutley for 13 years, and Clifton for the past 12 years. She is survived by her four children: Joseph III (Pattie) of Tennessee, Paul (Yvonne) of Franklin Lakes, MaryAnn Miller (Jeffrey) of Wayne, and Lori of Clifton. Loving grandmother of Joseph and Shannon DiGaetano; Paul DiGaetano, Jr.; Dr. Michael DiGaetano; and Joseph Michael DiGaetano. Great-grandmother to Joseph David. She was also "Grams" to her two four-legged fur grandbabies, Sandie and Gracie.
She was predeceased by her parents, Paolo and Nicoletta Lombardi; her brothers, Joseph, Rudolph, and baby brother Nicholas Lombardi; and her loving husband, Joseph DiGaetano, Jr.
Mary was honored to attend the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards in California with her brother, Joe Lombardi, in 1993.
Growing up in Passaic, she attended Passaic public schools and proudly graduated with the Class of 1948 from Passaic High School. During her years at PHS, Mary was captain of the basketball cheerleading squad and a member of the football cheerleading squad.
From a young age, Mary had a deep desire to help others. She served as a candy striper at Passaic General Hospital and was later employed by the City of Passaic as a school nurse's aide in the private schools for three decades.
Mary's love for her Catholic faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother were exemplified by her generosity and kindheartedness toward everyone around her. She was a faithful, dedicated, and lifelong parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Passaic. Mary was involved in many parish organizations, including the Children of Mary, the Third Order Secular Franciscans, the Sacred Heart Society, the Charismatic Prayer Group, and the St. Matthew's Counting Crew. She also served as President of the Catholic Youth Organization where she met her husband and was both a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Affectionately known by St. Anthony's Youth Ministry as "Momma Di," she was the unofficial grandmother to all the teenagers who were part of the group.
Mary was a longtime member of the Passaic Ecumenical Council and enjoyed breaking bread with people of many faiths. She was an active member of the National Council of Catholic Women-Diocese of Paterson Branch and former president of the Passaic-Clifton Council of Catholic Women.
Mary loved traveling on pilgrimages with St. Anthony's and other churches. Throughout her life, she visited the Holy Land, Greece, Fatima, Lourdes, Santiago De Compostela, Medjugorje, Canada, and many places in Italy. She also attended World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, Canada.
It was well known that Mary loved sports, but the team dearest to her heart was the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame. She bled blue and gold-no other team compared to her beloved Notre Dame. Go Irish!
Services: Visitation will be held at Allwood Funeral Home in Clifton, NJ on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Passaic, NJ. Interment at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mary's memory to Shriners Hospital, 3551 North Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140, Attn: Philanthropy, Terry Diamond (215-430-4055).