(This entry is work in progress, thanks)

Marie was born in New Kensington, a small town in Pennsylvania to Rose and Pasquali Lucidi in 1927. She was the only girl amongst 3 brothers. As the youngest sibling, she enjoyed growing up with the brotherly protection from Sam, Michael, and Pat. And, the boys sure did love their little sister. She attended New Kensington high school and loved football.

When she was age 18 she met a strapping young lad named Albert. Marie had no idea that it was with this handsome, football playing, 10 years her senior gentleman that she would create her life with. In 1947 Marie and Albert were married in St. Peter’s? Church. It was an elaborate Italian wedding as most were back then.

After returning from their honeymoon in Atlantic City, only a few happy years passed before the arrival of their first child Toni Marie. They lived in a modest home in the heart of New Kensington. The young family enjoyed bringing together the already large DeMayo and Lucidi families for holidays and special events such as Toni Marie’s baptism. Marie was raising Toni and taking care of the household while Albert sold life insurance. In 1958, Marie and Albert, while happily surrounded by lots of extended family, were looking for more. So, like thousand of others in the post-war era, they packed up the car and motored west, and had their sights set on California. They wanted something to truly call their own and just as Bing Crosby sang “I'm gonna settle down and never more roam, and make the San Fernando Valley my home”. And that they did. Actually they made North Hollywood their home. At the time, the area was a predominately Italian community complete with lots of Italian neighbors and even Saint Patrick’s Catholic church. As if the move wasn’t risky enough, they also decided to go into business for themselves. So, in 1959 the young couple, opened the now legendary, DeMayo’s Italian Grocery store. It was from this location at 6603 Vineland Avenue their roots were finally planted. At the time, Toni Marie was only X years old and enjoyed her two homes, five block north on Kittridge Street and the Grocery Store. The deli a nice size backyard where Toni Marie could safely play and see her parents create the business that she would one day, be running herself. The family established itself in the community, in part due to the amazing tomato sauce, meatballs, and sausage that Albert made and together they sold six days a week. In 1968, Marie and Albert were blessed with another child. Albert Michael was born in October to great fanfare and the pride of his father.

The now “family of four” with its roots firmly planted in the “Valley”, were living the American dream. Toni Marie and Albert Michael attended St Patrick’s elementary school, then Providence and Bellermine Jefferson high schools. Marie and Albert were very involved in the schools, especially St. Pat’s”. Marie was a member of the Womens Guide, a group of Mom’s that did fund raising by performing “shows” for the church community. The always funny and sometime sincere performances were not to be missed and have become the stuff of legend.

One day in 1962 Marie was overjoyed to hear that her parents, Rose and “Patsy” would also be “motoring west” to join them in California. Her parents moved into a small apartment at the end of Craner Street, before moving to a place on the Marie’s block of Kittridge Street near Vineland Avenue.

By the mid 1970’s Marie and the family seemed to have it all. She was mother of two healthy kids, wife to a respected Deli entrepreneur, Godmother to Danelle Germano, and neighbors with the Bickett’s, DiMaggio’s, Germano’s, and Gangi’s just to name a few. She was pretty lucky too, as she proved during her weekly Bingo game at St. Patricks. One day, while talking to Verna Bickett over a glass of wine, they decided to build a gate between the two houses to make more room for holiday parties. Marie always made too much food, but it always worth it. She also enjoyed golfing with her girlfriend Ann Germano and Marie DiMaggio.

In 1980, Marie was 52 years old with a 12 year old son. Toni Marie had joined the work force in 1976 and had moved out of the Kittridge house. Marie never struggled a bit to keep up with Albert Michael who was anything but a calm boy. She ran him from one place to another throughout the decade and loved every minute of it. She always loved kids and was often inviting other kids to join the family for dinner or a swim in the family pool. She had even extended an open invitation to Albert Michael’s best friend Darin Gangi to join the family every Sunday for Mass at St. Pat’s. In 1988, her love of kids was taken to the next level with the birth of her first grandchild. Toni Marie had given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Corey Lynn. Marie and Albert could not have been happier.

In 1990, at the suggestion of her close friend Gussie Blanc, Marie and Albert decided to have a look at the retirement community, Friendly Valley Country Club. It was just 30 miles north of the “valley” in Santa Clarita. After ensuring that her son Albert Michael was ready for the world at age 21, Marie and Albert packed up and moved into a modest home in beautiful Newhall California, right in the center of Friendly Valley. With Marie’s outgoing personality and infectious laugh, they quickly made friends. Although there are far too many to mention, some notable friend include Woody Modica, Loretta Clark, Mary Carnelli, and Arthur Jukes and his wife.

Marie and Albert fully embraced the community, and even joined the Friendly Valley Lawn Bowling league. And, as senior citizens often do, they signed up for many, bus trips to places like Lake Tahoe, New Mexico, and Mount Rushmore. The couple was again, living the dream.

Albert had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years and had unfortunately lost his battle in 1994. Surrounded by friends and family Marie spent years mourning the loss of her beloved husband Albert. A few months before Albert passed away however, Marie and Albert’s son Albert Michael and his wife Teresa had given birth to the first DeMayo boy, AJ Michael DeMayo. Marie was thrilled and was able to hand the infant grandson to Albert just weeks before his passing. She said it was a nice ending to a nearly 50-year relationship.

In 1996, after the passing of Albert, Marie had found solace in the friendship of her long-time neighbor Arthur Jukes. Art had lost his wife a number of years back as well and the two easily could support each other. After a while the friendly relationship grew to become a loving one. Marie and Arthur had become a couple. They had so much in common as they had traveled together, and lawn-bowled together in the years prior. They spend months on the road in Arthur’s motor-home, touring the United States and Canada. Marie and Arthur stayed together as constant companions through the end of Marie’s life.

In her final years Marie had been struggling with Alzheimer’s disease. And, those of you who knew her know that she was a strong woman. She was not going to go easy, and held on to her mental and physical abilities right until the end. At 87 years old, Marie Angela DeMayo passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 2nd, 2014. She is survived by her two children Toni Marie and Albert Michael. Also, by Toni’s husband Robert Hammack and Albert Michael’s wife Teresa DeMayo. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Corey Lynn Hammack, AJ Michael DeMayo and Maxwell Albert DeMayo. She even has one great grandchild Arianna Rodarte.

Marie was a spry, always-happy young woman that grew so graciously into the woman we all knew and loved. She has truly defined a great method of living life to the fullest. She will be missed forever.

-Albert Michael DeMayo