Ann Marie (Manganiello Hermitt) Macijowsky, 96, of West Pittston passed away on May 10 at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart in Dunmore.
Born on March 10, 1928, in West Pittston, she was raised with her six brothers and sisters in Exeter and was the daughter of the late John and Grace Manganiello.
Ann Marie graduated from St. Cecilia’s in Exeter. She married her high school sweetheart Joseph Hermitt and lived in Exeter with their three children, Claudia, Paula and Joseph. Upon his death in 1973, she owned and operated her late husband’s drug store, Stapleton’s Pharmacy in Wyoming, until the early 1980s. She then worked at Shoemaker’s Card and Gift Shop in Wyoming, where she served as the jewelry and gift buyer. Well known for her impeccable sense of style, this was a perfect position and one she reveled in.
Ann Marie later married Joseph Macijowsky and lived in Exeter until retirement in 1998 when the couple became snowbirds, living in Florida in winter and West Pittston with her daughter Claudia in the summer. She was widowed again in 2006.
She would later meet the last love of her life, Remo DeMarco, when her sister Alice set her up on a blind date. She and Remo would take in many more adventures in Pompano Beach, FL, including weekly dances at the Elks, several ocean cruises and two trips to Europe until his passing in 2020 at 96.
Ann Marie was a lover of life. She was an award-winning dancer, a passion she enjoyed well into her 90s. She loved 1940s swing music, with her favorites being Vaughn Monroe and the Ink Spots. She had an incredible sense of style and loved to dress for all occasions. She was a wonderful cook and loved eating, especially “hamburgs” on the grill and fresh tomato sandwiches on stale crusty bread.
She was a devout Christian, belonging to St. Cecilia’s in Exeter, Corpus Christi in West Pittston and St. Michael’s in Old Forge. She was a huge Penn State football fan and despite her poor vision, would sit two feet away from her 65-inch TV and watch every game, often yelling at the referees for horrible calls against her beloved Nittany Lions.
Ann Marie was an amazing storyteller, reciting tales from her childhood with incredible clarity, down to the outfit she was wearing. Her ability to recall specific events made her a living time machine, transporting her loved ones to various parts of her long, loving life.
Despite all her many interests, family was the most prized thing in her life. The second born child, she was given the nickname Sister by her older sibling Margaret, who couldn’t pronounce her proper name. The moniker stuck and she was known to her family as Sister and by her many nieces and nephews as Aunt Sis. Over the years she became the soft-spoken matriarch of the family, loved and respected by all.
Most of all, she was a kind and loving soul who welcomed everyone into the fold with warmth, dignity and respect.
Ann Marie was preceded in death by husbands Joseph Hermitt II, Joseph Macijowsky and partner Remo DeMarco; sisters Margaret Manganiello and Gloria Watson; brothers John Manganello, Robert Manganiello and Paul Manganiello.
She is survived by children Claudia Pope and husband Robert, West Pittston; Paula Cenera, Laflin; and Joseph Hermitt and wife Mandy, Mechanicsburg; grandchildren Jolene Clark and husband Brian, Avoca; Gary Blank, West Pittston; Elijah Hermitt, Los Angeles; Serena Hermitt, Carlisle; and great-grandchild Alex Clark. She also had step-grandchildren Brandon Pope, Pittston; Carrie Macijowsky Labosky and husband Ken, State College; Mary Farnsworth and husband James, Pottstown; Jeanne Macijowsky Komp and husband Thomas, Royersford; Andrew Macijowsky, Lake Winola; and step-great-grandchildren Nathan and Matthew Farnsworth, Trevor and Jacob Kemp, Amelia and Julian Macijowsky; and sister, Alice Fiorelli, Mt. Pocono.
The family will receive friends and relatives Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10am-11am in Corpus Christi Parish, 605 Luzerne Avenue, West Pittston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am. Private interment, at the convenience of the family in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 30 Ed Preate Drive, Suite 108, Moosic, PA 18507. Arrangements are entrusted to Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, Pittston.
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