Maria Guastella Obituary

Name: Visitation for Maria Guastella
Start: 2021-06-01T18:00:00.000Z
End: 2021-06-01T21:00:00.000Z
Location: Matthew Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc

Maria Guastella Cherished grandmother, devout Catholic Maria Guastella, 87, of Meiers Corners, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late Pippo (2015); loving mother of Camille Guastella-Lemma and her husband Paul, Richard Guastella and his wife Alesya, Gabriella Guastella-Malara and her husband Peter; cherished grandmother of James Joseph Garcia and his wife Meaghan, Anthony, Sofia, Faustina, Elizabeth and Lilianna Guastella; dear sister of Rosario Certo (Enza), Rita Steenbock, Ida DeStefano, Nino Certo. She was predeceased by her other siblings. She was survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Guastella was born and raised in Vittoria, the Province of Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. She came to the states in 1956 with her sister Ida. Maria paved the way for her husband and siblings to follow to America. She owned and operated for 40 years, Maria Cleaners and Tailors on Jewett Avenue, which is still owned and operated by her daughter Gabriella. She was beloved and a big presence in the Westerleigh and neighboring communities, due to her involvement with her business and the neighborhood. She was very outgoing and was proud of taking care of her customers at her business. Maria loved cooking and hosting parties at her home and going out dancing with her husband, where they attended many Italian dances. She was a big fan of the opera. Mrs. Guastella was a devout, practicing Catholic as a member of St. Rita's Parish for over 57 years, and she was a third order Carmelite from Sicily. She prayed the rosary daily. Maria was full of life and loved her time spent with her family and her dear friends and customers. Everyone loved Maria!!! Funeral from the Matthew Funeral Home, Inc. 2508 Victory Boulevard, on Wednesday, departing at 9:15 am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rita's R.C. Church at 10:00 am. Interment to follow in Moravian Cemetery. Family and friends may visit on Tuesday, from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The family requests that all visitors to the funeral home and church wear their masks. Also, the family requests that all who attend the wake, please remain in prayerful, reverent demeanor. Matthew Funeral Home 2508 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, N.Y. 10314 (718) 761-5544

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Published by Staten Island Advance from May 29 to May 30, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Maria Guastella

Sponsored by Matthew Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc.

8 Entries

Emilia Bevilacqua McCauley

June 28, 2021

Gabrielle & Family,
We are all so sorry to hear of your loss of your beautiful Mom. May she rest in eternal peace.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Emilia & Bevilacqua Family
6/28/2021

Henri perez

June 6, 2021

Raised in the neighborhood, i have been going to maria for 40+ years as an adult for my alterations. We would chat, as i was briefly in her hometown while i was in the service in the '80's. What a wonderful woman, and what a loss to us all. I would always try to convince her to travel home, and now, she is there with the Lord. God has blessed all of us that have at least met her. She is now blessed to spend eternity with Him.

Providenza certo

June 1, 2021

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Paul A. Lemma

June 1, 2021

The Winds of Life and the Oak Tree
(In memory of Beloved Maria Gaustella)

A mighty wind blew day and night,
It took the Oak Tree's leaves and acorns away,
Then snapped its limbs and pulled its bark
Until the Oak Tree was tired and stark.
But still the Oak Tree held its ground
While other trees fell.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you you still be standing Oak?

The Oak Tree replied "I know you can
Break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf and acorn away,
Shake my limbs, make me sway,
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
The Acorns you blew away,
Will one day grow into mighty Oak Trees.
They are part of me,
They will carry on the legacy of
A life well lived."

Heidi Sikorski

May 31, 2021

Was thinking about Maria and the life she lived. Her generous love for you all, her children, and grandchildren later, and extended family was so evident. She was a strong, classy, and beautiful woman, who left her birth country and made a wonderful life here, sharing her passion and talents with others through her opening her shop, and in her incredible hospitality, so generous in the meals she prepared,
a wonderful homemaker, and of course her even extending hospitality at the shop. Her love of Jesus Christ also shown through her. John 3:16. Her smile would light up the room. She touched many lives for the better, mine and Mike's included. Mine as when I first started to work in Manhattan and needed a dry cleaner, I chose Maria as wanting to support a neighborhood small business owner, hard working and talented, making an honest living. Through it I not only got clean and expertly repaired clothing, but was blessed by a beautiful friendship that developed through the years. She was so kind to me and served as a mother figure when I went through some bad times. Of course out of her came my meeting her daughter Gabriella. We hit it off right away too, another friendship. God blessed me tenfold through Maria as Gabriella is one of my besties. I loved Maria and love her entire family. Maria and her family welcomed me in as one of their own. Thank you for that! I can remember some of the dinners I had with Maria and her family at her house, enjoying good food, great conversation and laughs, while watching RAI TV. Good memories too of that one year having birthday cake three nights in a row at Maria's to celebrate birthdays of me and her daughters since our birthdays are all in a row. I am blessed numerous times over through having known and been loved by Maria. May our Lord Jesus bless and comfort you, Gabriella, Richie, Camille and the extended family. Sending tight hugs your way and keeping you in my prayers to our God who never slumbers and always sees and hears us, our Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Patrizia, Ida, Gianluca

Sent Flowers

Mike Sikorski

May 30, 2021

What a great lady. Evey time I stopped into the cleaners with my wife Heidi, Maria would ALWAYS insist I have an Expresso and she would go to the bakery next door and get cookies. She found her way to my heart through my stomach :-)

Mike Sikorski