Maria was born on April 9, 1932 in Ruviano, Caserta Italy to Maria Giuseppa Ricciuti and Giusseppe Coppola. She died peacefully at the age of 92 on January 10, 2025 in Woodbridge, Connecticut, the place she called home for over 50 years. Maria grew up in Italy alongside her mother and two older brothers. Fulfilling her mother's wishes, she married at the age of 17 and the couple decided to embrace the country of her mother's birth. She boarded a ship which would lead her to her new life in New Haven, Connecticut. She shortly thereafter discovered she was pregnant with her first child, Rosanna. Maria spent her days ironing lab coats for physicians at Yale Hospital and her nights taking classes to learn the language of her newly-adopted country. She was resilient, hard working, and knew the value of an education. After her divorce, years later she met and married Dominick Benedetto. Together they raised their three children, Rosanna, Donnie, and Cristina. Maria spent a lifetime caring for those around her, taking great pride in her homemaking skills and keeping an open door for visitors. Like any good Italian mother, she ensured that anyone who came to her house was well fed, from close relatives to a quick visitor. Later in life, she also greatly enjoyed the simplicity of her home, where she spent time looking out her window at birds building nests or the beautiful views of her pond and wildlife. She had great appreciation for the arts, loved PBS, and enjoyed a constant stream of quiet opera music playing throughout the house. Above all, Maria found her greatest joy in the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren. Whether in her role as Mommy, Mama, or Nonna, she was always front-row to support her family. She had a fierce yet nurturing personality, and it is one that her family will greatly miss. Maria was predeceased by her husband Dominick Benedetto, her brothers Raffaelle and Antonio, and her son Donald Benedetto. She is survived by her daughters, Rosanna (Robert) Holt of New York City and Cristina (Robert) Laplaca of Weston, Connecticut, and her grandchildren Taylor, William, and Caroline. Friends and family are invited to Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Woodbridge on Tuesday at 11:00am for a Mass of Christian burial. Entombment will follow in Beaverdale Mausoleum.