Maria Margherita Elifani (née Diliddo), 88, of West Orange, passed away peacefully at her son Giuseppe’s home on March 20th.  She was born on February 16, 1935, to parents Giuseppe and Sabata Diliddo in Italy, where she was raised with her brothers, Frank and Sabino. Maria was the widow of Antonio Elifani, whom she married in 1962. Maria and Antonio moved to New Jersey in 1969.

She is survived by her two sons, Michael and Giuseppe, and daughters-in-law, Margarita and Rosa. She is survived by her brother Sabino, sister-in-laws Faustina and Ruth, and is preceded in death by her brother Frank. She is survived by her grandchildren, Thanny, Danny, Ashley, Kaycie, Antonio, and Michael Jr., and great-granddaughter, Sarai. Visitation will be held from 3-7 pm on Friday, 3/24, at Dangler Funeral Home, 340 Main St, West Orange, NJ. Funeral mass will be held at 10 am on Saturday, 3/25, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 103 S Center St, Orange, NJ. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 225 Ridgedale Ave, East Hanover, NJ.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate.