Marie Ann Giuffre

Marie A. Giuffre (née LaLima) passed away peacefully on April 29, 2025, in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Born in Queens, New York, Marie had the thick New York accent to prove it, even after living in Georgia for 20 years. Marie met her husband, Joe, on a double date with another guy and that began the road to a 36-year marriage before Joe left this world, far too soon. Marie and Joe lived on Staten Island for a time when they met lifelong friends John and Georgina Russo, who were like another set of parents to their daughters. Raising her daughters on Long Island, NY, Marie was known as a friendly, humorous, loyal, and caring friend whose laugh, sneezes, and nose blowing were memorable. Marie and her dear friend Carolyn Angell, who predeceased Marie, talked, complained about vacuuming, and giggled numerous times daily. 

Marie worked as a bank teller for many years while her latchkey kids let themselves into the family home, did their homework, and studied every single day, well, maybe. She was fully supportive of her children and their interests which meant driving them to lessons, orchestra, camp, and friends’ houses. She enjoyed many hobbies, arts and crafts, and growing award-winning African Violets, a lot of African Violets, everywhere!

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph B. Giuffre. They shared a life together marked by enduring love, well-known cabinet and door slams, more ups than downs, and devotion to their girls. She was also predeceased by her parents, Joseph M. and Concetta LaLima, her sister- and brother-in-law, Sarah and Vincenzo Portera, her father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Nancy Giuffre, and several of her aunts and uncles.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Lisa Giuffre (the perfect child) and Nancy Hollimon (the little rebel); daughter-in-law, Lisa Desruisseaux; grandchildren, Cacey Desruisseaux, Jay Hollimon, and Nathan Hollimon; and her sister-in-law Natalie Wisniewski and her husband, Thomas. Marie’s presence will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her, her nieces and nephews, and dear friends she made along the way.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 08:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Alexander-Rothwell Funeral Home 6447 Route 25A, Wading River NY.  Following that, a Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Church 1488 North Country Road, Wading River, NY. A Graveside Service will be held immediately after the church service at approximately 12:15 PM at Calverton National Cemetery 210 Princeton Boulevard in Calverton, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider doing something nice for someone you don’t know in honor of Marie. If you do send flowers, for crying out loud, do not buy her roses!  She hated them!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marie Ann Giuffre, please visit our floral store.