Obituary for Mary Jane DiMaio (Patriarca)
Mary Jane (Patriarca) DiMaio, 82, passed away at the Westerly Hospital on Monday, January 3, 2022. She was the beloved wife of Dr. Anthony C. DiMaio for 60 years.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late F. Joseph and Columbia Patriarca.
Mary Jane graduated from St. Xavier and then continued her education graduating from Salve Regina University with a B.A. in sociology and education. She was a real estate broker and a longtime communicant of St. Clare Church. She served on the Westerly Town Council for several terms and was the first female council president. She was proud to have been the Founder of Neighbor Day in Westerly in 1993. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she was also generous with her time and commitment to town of Westerly.
In addition to her devoted husband, she leaves two children, Joseph-Anthony DiMaio and wife Deborah George of Warwick, and Mary Jane DiMaio Caraway and husband Travis of Westerly as well as daughter-in-law Kirsten C. DiMaio. Mary Jane is also survived by her brother Eleuterio R. Patriarca of Florida, brother-in-law Dr. David Vito of Florida; and four grandchildren, Michael, Bryan and Alyssa DiMaio, and Danica Caraway. She was predeceased by two sons, Daniel DiMaio and Dr. Anthony-Joseph DiMaio; and her sister Joann Vito.
Mary Jane was imaginative and a visionary. Found among her personal papers, her family shares her words:
“Mom and Dad taught me LOVE… Give to your children as we have given to you. I hope to be remembered for my service to others, my vision, and the best advice I have been given: ‘Let God Let GO!’; ‘The power of prayer'! "
"I do not like to toot my own horn but hope to be a link to unite humanity in love and peace."
"My favorite Quote: ‘Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your life by friends, not years’.”
Love One Another, you can always Love -you may not be able to forgive each other but please try!
"Remember Love of Neighbor, Neighbor Day is every day!
Love you all!"
~Mary Jane, Mom, Nana, etc.
Further, Mary Jane had a vibrant sense of humor, instructing her family in her personal papers as follows:
“Bury me with sandals on my feet, a green scapula, a small bell placed close bye, water, and my Asthma spray -just in case I am buried alive… I like to be prepared, I was a girl scout remember!”
Mary Jane requested family and friends reflect upon her life, contributions or something good that she may have done, and that these reflections be memorialized in writing. Please visit the Gaffney-Dolan Memory Wall (https://www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/4816982/DiMaio-Mary-Jane/index.php) and record your reflection.
Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Clare Church, 62 Crandall Avenue, Westerly on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 10am. Burial will be private. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 North Main Street, Suite 104, Natick, MA 01760 or www.cff.org are welcome.
For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late F. Joseph and Columbia Patriarca.
Mary Jane graduated from St. Xavier and then continued her education graduating from Salve Regina University with a B.A. in sociology and education. She was a real estate broker and a longtime communicant of St. Clare Church. She served on the Westerly Town Council for several terms and was the first female council president. She was proud to have been the Founder of Neighbor Day in Westerly in 1993. A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she was also generous with her time and commitment to town of Westerly.
In addition to her devoted husband, she leaves two children, Joseph-Anthony DiMaio and wife Deborah George of Warwick, and Mary Jane DiMaio Caraway and husband Travis of Westerly as well as daughter-in-law Kirsten C. DiMaio. Mary Jane is also survived by her brother Eleuterio R. Patriarca of Florida, brother-in-law Dr. David Vito of Florida; and four grandchildren, Michael, Bryan and Alyssa DiMaio, and Danica Caraway. She was predeceased by two sons, Daniel DiMaio and Dr. Anthony-Joseph DiMaio; and her sister Joann Vito.
Mary Jane was imaginative and a visionary. Found among her personal papers, her family shares her words:
“Mom and Dad taught me LOVE… Give to your children as we have given to you. I hope to be remembered for my service to others, my vision, and the best advice I have been given: ‘Let God Let GO!’; ‘The power of prayer'! "
"I do not like to toot my own horn but hope to be a link to unite humanity in love and peace."
"My favorite Quote: ‘Count your life by smiles, not tears. Count your life by friends, not years’.”
Love One Another, you can always Love -you may not be able to forgive each other but please try!
"Remember Love of Neighbor, Neighbor Day is every day!
Love you all!"
~Mary Jane, Mom, Nana, etc.
Further, Mary Jane had a vibrant sense of humor, instructing her family in her personal papers as follows:
“Bury me with sandals on my feet, a green scapula, a small bell placed close bye, water, and my Asthma spray -just in case I am buried alive… I like to be prepared, I was a girl scout remember!”
Mary Jane requested family and friends reflect upon her life, contributions or something good that she may have done, and that these reflections be memorialized in writing. Please visit the Gaffney-Dolan Memory Wall (https://www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/4816982/DiMaio-Mary-Jane/index.php) and record your reflection.
Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Clare Church, 62 Crandall Avenue, Westerly on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at 10am. Burial will be private. Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly is in care of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 North Main Street, Suite 104, Natick, MA 01760 or www.cff.org are welcome.
For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com.