Obituary of Mary Carmela Gidaro

Mary C. (Covino) Gidaro, 91, passed away at her residence in Cranbury surrounded by her family.  Mary was born and raised in Port Reading, lived in Perth Amboy, moved back to Port Reading for several years before retiring to Rossmoor, Monroe Twp. and settling in Cranbury in 2017.  Mary was the first daughter in the family to attend and graduate from Woodbridge High School, Class of 1949.  During WWII, she knitted squares that would be put together as blankets for the troops.  When she was 22, she met a handsome young man from Calabria.  Though her Italian was limited and Joe knew no English, they fell in love and married on April 18, 1953.  She always spoke of her wedding venue and how they had a chicken dinner instead of sandwiches.  Mary worked as a secretary at Ronson Corp. in Woodbridge where she was a star bowler on their bowling team and Flagstaff in Perth Amboy before raising her family as a homemaker.  One of Mary's most memorable jobs was assembling tiny E-T wind up toys and she made sure that every niece and nephew had one.  Mary was known for her cooking, especially her meatballs.  Every time you went to her house, you remembered being well fed under the grapevine.  She was known for helping everyone in her family, especially her inlaws and Italian relatives with filling out and translating documents.  At the age of 56 she became a grandma and was devoted to her grandchildren.  She became referred to as "Turnpike Mary" driving every day from Port Reading to South Brunswick to ensure that the grandchildren got to school safely.  Everyone in town knew Nani Mary.  Later in life Mary loved to travel, finally to Italy and frequent trips to Ontario, CA to see family and lifelong friends.  Mary also enjoyed many trips to Atlantic City and Parx Casino, always having luck on the 7's slots and she was an avid NY Yankees fan.  She was proud of her grandson who is a member of the NJ State Police Marine Division.  When Adrianna Jo, her only great-grandchild, arrived her life became fulfilled.  She babysat 3 times a week, until very recently, eating breakfast while watching The Grinch with the baby.  God has gained a true delicate and loving angel and we have many great memories and laughs with her.  Teasing her or being teased was always going on.  She loved everyone and was a true peacemaker.  

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph (2015), four brothers: Carmen Covino, Lorenzo Valetutto, Angelo Valetutto and Salvatore Covino, three sisters: Margie (Domenica) Gavor, Nan (Antoinette) Frasca, Angie (Angelina) Covino.

She is survived by her daughter, Doreen Jogan and her husband Robert of Cranbury, her son, Joseph Gidaro of Monroe Twp., one brother, Joseph Covino of Port Reading and one sister, Anne Smith of Whiting, two grandchildren: Robert Jogan II and his wife, Kerry and Alana Scalzo and her husband Ryan, and her great-granddaughter Adrianna Jo.  Also surviving are many nieces, nephews and extended family.  

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the nurses of the VNA Hospice Group, especially the Middlesex County and RWJ Hospice divisions.  They were the godsend that helped her children and grandchildren prepare her for her journey "home" and will always be eternally grateful.  

Visitation will be 3:00-7:00 pm on Friday March 3, 2023 and 8:00-8:45 am on Saturday March 4, 2023 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc. – 205 Rhode Hall Rd., Monroe Twp., NJ  08831.  Funeral services will begin at 8:45 am on Saturday from the funeral home.  A funeral liturgy will be 9:30 am at St. James the Less RC Church – 36 Lincoln Ave., Jamesburg, NJ  08831 followed by entombment in Holy Cross Burial Park Mausoleum, South Brunswick.

For those who wish to live stream the Mass, please follow this link: https://vimeo.com/event/47678/embed.

In lieu of flowers and for those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Health Group – www.vnahg.org/giving OR St. Matthias School – Attn: Development Office, 170 JFK Blvd., Somerset, NJ  08873.  Please indicate in the memo of the check “In memory of Mary Gidaro”