Catherine Maruca

It is with great sadness that the loving family of Catherine Marie (Toots) Maruca announce her passing at LaFayette Manor on October 6, 2022. She was 90 years old. Toots never stopped fighting and maintained her positive, loving countenance throughtout her illness. She greeted everyone with her signature smile and always thanked them for visiting her, never questioning why she had to suffer the dreadful effects of ALS. She lived a simple life, providing love and joy her many friends and family. Toots rejoins her loved ones who predeceased her; her parents, Fred and Molly Giardini, her husband Frank to whom she was married to for 63 years, and her brothers, Bill, Dom and Lee (DeeDee). Toots was widely known as Mom Maruca to people she encountered in her lifelong home of Uniontown. She and her husband owned and operated Mom Maruca’s Pizza Shop on Gallatin Avenue for many years. Though humble by nature, Toots loved to discuss her family. She dearly loved her son Gregg and his wife Donna who cared for her with complete love and devotion, not just through her illness, but throughout her life.

Her eyes lit up when anyone mentioned Gregg and Donna’s children, Angela (Stephen) Andursky, and Gregg, Jr., She was overjoyed with the addition of her great grandchildren, Olivia and Lucas to the family. Although she did not have the opportunity to be with them as much as she had always hoped. Toots is also survived by her son, Terry and his children, Ben, Becky and Victoria, as well as a great grandson, Theodore whom she loved from afar.

In addition to her siblings, Joann Marcinko (Bill), Fred Giardini (Rachel) and Rich Giardini (Melanie), Toots is also survived by many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She was especially close to her cousins Denise Cicconi, Stephanie Franty, Dolores, and Stephen Hrin and her best friend Linda Yezioro with whom she spoke to daily.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to everyone at Beechwood Court, LaFayette Manor and Amedisys Hospice who cared for Toots and they went above and beyond their job responsibilities, treating Toots and her family with the utmost respect, care and love.

Toots was a role model for all. She lived her life with no judgements, resentment or ill will. Instead, she chose to spread love and acceptance. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, perhaps any unsolicited act of kindness for some poor, unfortunate soul in her name would bring a smile to her face as she looks down on all of us from her heavenly home.

Arrangements are private and under the direction of the Terravecchia-Haky Home for Funerals, Inc. 71 Pennsylvania Avenue, Uniontown, PA 15401.

Entombment will be held in Sylvan Heights Mausoleum, Uniontown, Pa .15401

Charities that were near to “Toots” heart were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital :

P.O. Box 2151, 501 St. Jude Place,Memphis, TN 38101-2151.

And:

The ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter, 416 Lincoln Ave, Millvale, PA 15209