Maria Terracciano Obituary
Maria Angelina Casella Terracciano was born on January 13, 1930, to Mary and Frank Casella in the Bronx, New York.
Maria was deeply loved and will be forever cherished by her devoted family: her son, Robert; her daughter, Laura, and Laura's husband, Alan Magner—affectionately known as "Maria's favorite child"; her grandsons, Ryan and his wife, Alicia, Daniel and his wife, Alicia, and Drew and his girlfriend, Jill; and her great-grandchildren, Myles, Ella, Judah, Reese, and Zoe. She also lovingly welcomed Ryder, Evi, and Wonder into her family as great-grandchildren. Maria leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
She was predeceased by her devoted husband, Julius "Terry" Terracciano, and her brothers, Salvatore and Anthony Casella.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Maria remained there until 1997, when she moved to her "happy place" in Perkinsville, Vermont. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1948 and later attended business school. Maria enjoyed a long and accomplished professional career, first leading an appellate services business before establishing her own company, Terrace Appeals. She later served at Columbia University as a development and alumni relations fundraising coordinator, a position she held until her retirement.
Maria was an active member of the Red Hat Society and Il Cicola Luci. She was also a faithful supporter of numerous charitable organizations throughout her life.
Brilliant, strong, and deeply loving, Maria enriched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Family and friends were often captivated by her remarkable stories, drawn from more than nine decades of rich life experiences. She delighted in completing The New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle and rarely missed an opportunity to persuade someone to join her in a game or puzzle. A devoted letter writer, Maria maintained correspondence with several pen pals until the very end of her life.
Maria possessed a lifelong passion for travel, literature, poetry, and history. She was also an enthusiastic collector of recipes. Those who knew her best will always remember her extraordinary talent in the kitchen—especially her incomparable tomato sauce, which she firmly insisted was "sauce, not gravy," as well as her beloved meatballs and lasagna. She generously shared her treasured recipes with many fortunate family members and friends.
Above all, Maria's greatest gifts were the love and devotion she gave as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her beautiful smile, open arms, warm kisses, and unwavering love will remain forever in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
