Maria Barbieri, age 65 years, of Raritan Borough NJ, died on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville, NJ, surrounded by her loving and cherished family.

Born in Sant’Onofrio, Calabria, Italy, February 26, 1952, daughter of Giovanna Cugliari Figliano of Raritan, NJ and the late Fortunato Figliano who died in 2011, she emigrated to the United States in 1954, settling in Raritan, NJ where she lived the majority of her life. She had also lived in Branchburg, NJ for fifteen years.

Maria graduated from St. Joseph’s Parochial School, Raritan, NJ and then was a 1971 graduate of Bridgewater-Raritan West High School. She later attended Middlesex County Community College where she earned her associates degree in Biology. She had worked for over ten years with AT&T, East Brunswick, NJ, as a computer analyst.

When reflecting on Maria, one need only to read the following words which were said by her four-year old grandson, Cameron, as he tried to comfort his family when he stated at her bedside right before she died, “Nonna’s body stays here, but her brain and the love in her heart go right to heaven.”

This statement is significant because family and friends were Maria’s life and ultimately, her legacy and those words show just what values she instilled in them.

Born seven weeks premature, with little medical care, Maria was not supposed to survive long after birth. However, her strength and perseverance showed itself in this little child as she overcame all odds to live. She suffered her entire life with a serious respiratory illness, however to see her, one would never know. Never complaining or feeling sorry for herself, her illness never defined her, nor prevented her from being present in all situations and in all ways, from the physical to the spiritual.

She grew up and became a woman whose motto was to, “Carpe Diem,” and she seized each day by loving everyone she came in contact with. Her gentle soul was immediately evident upon meeting her, and she would listen to people and help them however she could. Selflessness was something that just came naturally to her and something which she instilled in her family.

Her family was her world, and they are all grateful for the core values of love and respect that she helped to pass on to each generation.

Always having the right word for any situation, Maria operated from her own foundation of respect and love, which made her the center of her family; this matriarchal role came naturally, and she enjoyed hosting many holidays and parties for family and friends. Christmas was her particular favorite, and her house was immaculately decorated each holiday season. She was a perfectionist with regard to ensuring that the smallest detail in any situation was accounted for; this was all done because she wanted to make those whom she was doing things for, have the best and happiest experience.

To reflect on Maria, you also would have to immediately reflect on her beloved, “Patsy,” her husband of forty-five years with whom she joined hands in marriage on May 27, 1972 in St. Ann’s Church, Raritan, NJ. Pasquale met Maria in the United States officially, but he had first met his future wife when they were children in Italy. Little did he know then, as an adolescent in the United States, that the girl he saw walking in Raritan, NJ and with whom he fell in love with at first sight, was the girl he played with on a beach in Italy as a child.

Proposing to her on election day, November 5, 1968, on the corner of Church Street and 2nd Street in Raritan, Patsy recalls he won the greatest prize of all that day when she said not only yes, but, “Why did you take so long?” to his proposal. Their union of love would bear two children and subsequently four grandchildren. Her grandchildren became her world the past several years, and one could not find a more loving and devoted Nonna. Again, even with her illness, there was not a family trip, school play or a family or friend celebration she missed. She was particularly fond of family vacations, trips to the Jersey shore, day adventures with the grandchildren and all the time spent with family in the Poconos.

Her spirit of love and thoughtfulness did not die on Sunday, for as the saying goes, “Love does not die, people do. So when all that is left of me is love, give me away as best as you can.” Maria’s legacy will live on for eternity as long as people keep being loving and kind to one another.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by an uncle, Michael Cugliari; an aunt, Maria Fusca; and a cousin, Rose Fusca.

Surviving are her mother, Giovanna Cugliari Figliano; her husband of forty-five years, Pasquale “Patsy” Barbieri; her children, Antoinetta and husband, Christopher Phelan and Adrian and wife, Christina Barbieri; her grandchildren, Natalie Rose and Cameron Andrew Phelan, and Ethan and Peyton Livermore; her brothers, Joseph and wife, Raffaela Figliano and Basil and wife, Cheryl Figliano; her sister of love, Helen and husband, John Fallone; and many extended loving family and friends.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for all the expressions of love that have been shown to them. Additionally, they would like to thank Maria’s guardian angel on Earth, Dr. Louis DePalo at Mt. Sinai, along with his entire office, who helped Mary live as long as possible and have a life that was as full as it could be; he also was a steadfast supporter and source of encouragement to the entire family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. John Werner on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Ann’s Church, 45 Anderson Street, Raritan, NJ 08869, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Entombment will follow in St. Bernard’s Mausoleum, Route 28, Bridgewater, NJ.

Maria will lie in repose on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 from 1:00-3:00 and 5:00-8:00 p.m., as well as on Thursday, June 22, 2017 from 8:00-9:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Please visit Maria’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to send a public or private message of condolence and to share stories and photographs of her life.

Those wishing to make a contribution in her memory may do so to the Respiratory Institute at Mount Sinai, 10 East 102nd Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10029 where Dr. DePalo is currently starting new clinical trials to help those afflicted with the same disease that afflicted Maria.