Mary Lizzio de Paulis, age 91, went home to be with the Lord on January 19, 2020.
Mary was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Alfio Lizzio and Venera Finocchiaro Lizzio who predeceased her. She is survived by Marisa de Paulis (Randall Hawn), Vera de Paulis and Amato de Paulis ( Marzia Magi ). She is also survived by five granddaughters, Catrina Gemmerich, Claudia de Paulis, Erin (Hawn) Anderson, (James Anderson), Bethany (Hawn) Jensen, (Joshua Jensen), Megan (Hawn) Stauffer, Craig Stauffer; and eight great grandchildren, Kyle Anderson, Carson Anderson, Caden Anderson, Ella Anderson, Kaya Jensen, Logan Jensen, Cole Stauffer and Cameron Stauffer.
Mary graduated from her beloved P.S. DuPont High school in 1946. Mary’s life spanned not only numerous decades, but also, numerous successful careers including that of banking, education and retail ownership. In addition to being an accomplished professional woman, Mary was also a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Further, Mary epitomized the concept of the Renaissance woman with her success as a high school athlete, including archery and ice skating and later as a professional woman who also demonstrated her creative ability through numerous endeavors. Examples include designing dresses and crocheting 1200+ hats, sent to infants in developing nations in 4 continents with each child receiving an original design. Mary created all of these hats after age 80 with limited hand and arm mobility. In addition to her artistic talent, Mary interpreted and created intricate lace needlework. Further, Mary had amazing culinary skills and was also an excellent gardener with an exceptional knowledge of horticulture. Notably, as a middle school student, taking art classes at the Delaware Art Museum, a representative from the Freer Art Gallery in Washington, DC selected her artwork for display in the Freer Gallery.
Mary’s loving spirit and continued acts of kindness and acceptance caused most who met her to love and to claim her as their second mother. Many people found safety and solace in Mary’s loving heart. In addition to her loving heart, Mary demonstrated a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor which she was readily able to communicate even after multiple strokes claimed her ability to speak. Mary’s excellent ability to retain the majority of what she had read and learned made her able frequently to answer questions that “stumped” contestants on Jeopardy. Mary was a wonderful role model for all who knew her due to her grace, as she withstood physical hardships which never caused her to lose her ability to care, to be compassionate and to be intuitive to the needs of others. Another example of Mary’s loving character was demonstrated in her love and compassion for animals which gravitated to her.
With Mary’s passing, she leaves behind immeasurable loss in the lives she touched.
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