Frank J. Maiello

Frank J. Maiello died in his home in East Norriton, Pa., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, one day shy of his 103rd birthday. He maintained a zest for life up to his final days, when he would crack jokes and regale family members and friends with tales of his adventures that could have been excerpted from a picaresque novel. His life was a tribute to curiosity, perseverance and self-reliance. He served in the Army during World War II, entering Europe in Trowbridge, England, moving on to France a few days after D-Day and continuing into Belgium, Germany and Austria. He fought with the 11th Armored Division under General Patton, in Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, in one of the bloodiest battles and coldest winters of the war. While lying in a foxhole, he was wounded by a stray enemy bullet, and treated the wound himself rather than seek help. "They were all too busy," he said when asked why he didn't call for a medic. That same independent, "can-do" attitude continued for the rest of his life, as he tried new things and rarely asked for help. He was born in Ambler, Pa. to Angela Serrao Maiello and Joseph Maiello, immigrants from Maida and San Pietro a Maida, Italy. He was a graduate of Ambler High School and the now-defunct Philadelphia Institute of Electricity. He worked for many years as chief electrician for American Stores Co., in Philadelphia before joining Univac (now Unisys), where he became plant supervisor of the facility. With the war nearly over, he married Maria Bersani in 1945, after a chance meeting in Linz, Austria when she was trying to return to Italy with other displaced persons who had been taken from their homeland by the Nazis and sent to Czechoslovakia to work in factories sewing soldiers' uniforms. They were married for 40 years before she died in 1986. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sisters: Angelina Pulli, Angela Pulli, Catarina Farzetta and Antoinette Maiello, and brothers, Salvatore Maiello, Victor Maiello and John Costantino. He is also predeceased by three of his children: Joseph Maiello, Frank Maiello and Angela Ditzel and a son-in-law, Richard Prospero. His daughter Linda Prospero (husband Ronald DeCicco) survives him, as well as daughters-in-law Fern Maiello and Susan Maiello and nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Since 1991, he has been married to his loving wife Rose Calabria, who also survives him, along with her daughters Lisa Pate, Audrey Putrament (husband Mike), and Valerie Mitchell (husband John). An avid golfer, it was not unusual for Frank to play 27 holes of golf into his mid-90s, on a summer day when the temperature outside was as high as his age. Until he moved to an adult community a few years ago, he spent many hours in his vegetable garden, tending to his plants. He enjoyed traveling to Italy when his daughter Linda was living in Rome in 2005, and easily climbed the 551 steps to the summit of St. Peter's Cathedral at age 86, with his daughter, 30 years younger, trailing behind. It was this same curiosity that led him to try roller blading in his 80s, although it unfortunately ended with a broken ankle. He loved dancing to big band music into his 90s and was fortunate enough in his youth to hear live performances in Philadelphia and at Pottstown's Sunnybrook Ballroom, from his favorite bands, including Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Harry James. A few years ago, after getting rid of his car, he said he "needed some wheels" and purchased a snappy red, three-wheeled scooter. Until a couple of months ago, on sunny days, he could be found buzzing around on it, to the entertainment and astonishment of all who knew him. Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Monday December 16th from 10:00 -10:50 AM followed by his Funeral Mass 11:00 AM at St.Helena's Catholic Church 1489 DeKalb Pike,Blue Bell. Entombment to follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery Mausoleum In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans, 171 New Jersey Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08629 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Frank J. Maiello, please visit our floral store.