Maria P. DeStefano

DESTEFANO, Maria (Vecchio);

December 24, 1939 - March 26, 2024. Loving wife of the late Emilio DeStefano; beloved mother of Lucia (Earl) DeStefano-Wells and Justin (Danielle) DeStefano; cherished and adored Nonna of Philip (Hannah) Wells, Michael, Earl IV, Amelia Wells and Antonio, Giuliana, Mariella, Carina, and Stella DeStefano.  Cherished Zia of Nicolo La Fornara and several nieces and nephews. Adored daughter of the late Giuseppe and Nicoletta Vecchio. Predeceased by her sisters, Carmelina (Anthony) Adornetto, Lucia (Joseph) LaFornara, Nina (Charles) Baeli; Survived by sister, Anna (Charles) Sodaro of Victorville, California. Maria was born on Christmas Eve 1939 in Rocella Valdermone Sicily; she came to the United States in 1958 and settled on Buffalo’s West Side on Greenwood Place. She earned her GED from Lafayette High School while working days at M. Wile sewing men’s suits. Emilio spotted her walking out of work and followed her bus home to meet her.  His future mother-in-law invited him to lunch that next Sunday and the rest is history.  Maria was a talented seamstress and sewed most of Lucy’s clothes in the 1970’s.

Maria loved to entertain and cook for family and friends and enjoyed sharing her homemade wine. Many people shared a glass with her throughout her life. Maria loved to dance and entertain in the basement bar Emilio built where she made and served many whisky sours with family and friends on many Saturday nights. The eighties brought Justin so the parties at night turned to bowling parties with her BFF Laura and Justin.  She was a part of the Bowling Ladies at Sheridan Lanes in the 1980’s.  The 1990’s brought her grandchildren and what she was born to do; the love in the eyes of all her grandchildren and the love they showed back is testament to that.  Maria’s grandchildren were the love and pride of her life and she took care of them until she was no longer able.  Maria had two children but always boasted about her nine grandchildren!  She would tell everyone stories about her grandchildren whenever they visited her.  The true testament to the love she gave was her family constantly surrounding her bedside her last few days.

Visitation will be at Lombardo Funeral Home at 885 Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst on Friday, March 29th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Monday, April 1st from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s of Swormville church at 6919 Transit Road in East Amherst (in the old church that they now refer to as the Chapel).  Maria will be interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheektowaga.

We also we would like donations in Maria’s memory be made to:

Hernandez Helpers Endowment

c/o Roswell Park Alliance Foundation

901 Washington Street

Buffalo, NY 14203