Maria Carmela Bruno

Maria was born in Naples, Italy, on March 22, 1933. She was the oldest child, and only girl, of Onofrio and Chiarina Napolitano. Maria was pulled out of school at an early age to help raise her three brothers, Pascual, Steve and Nicky. She learned to cook and sew and studied embroidery at a nearby convent. Maria followed her parents to New Jersey in 1963. There she met Pete Bruno. They married in 1964 and together raised two children, Chiarina and Pete. In 1974, Pete and Maria purchased a pizzeria, which they operated until they moved to Anaheim, California in 1978. Following Pete’s death in 1986, Maria lived independently until 2020. In 2023, she moved into Southland Care Assisted Living in Norwalk, California, where she was loved and cared for by the tremendous staff until her death on December 2, 2024.

Maria was a devoted Catholic, parishioner of St. Justin Martyr, and prayed the rosary every day. She was a tremendous cook, and her home-style Italian banquets were thoroughly enjoyed by both family and friends.

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