Maria Rita Miele

Maria Miele, 79, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Friday, May 27, 2011.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at St. Mary’s University Church in Mt. Pleasant with Father Brian Van Hove presiding.

Maria was born Jan. 30, 1932, in Providence, RI, the daughter of the late Joseph and Agatha (Pagano) Pesare. She married Tony “Chico” Miele on Aug. 2, 1952, at St. Augustine Church in Providence.

She enjoyed traveling internationally, gardening, her book club, playing scrabble, dancing, and was known for her fantastic cooking, generosity, humor and wit. But her greatest joy was being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Maria is survived by her husband, Tony “Chico” Miele; four children, Linda Miele-Rosenquist of Brooklyn, NY, Elizabeth (David Lubbers) Miele of Grand Rapids, Paul (Laura) Miele of Brighton and Christina (Greg) Miller of Seattle, WA; five grandchildren, Brian Rosenquist, Anna Miele, Michael Miele, Natalie Miller and Jacqueline Miller; two sisters-in-law, Nina Pesare and Phyllis Pesare; brother-in-law, Bob Lawson; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by seven siblings, Dr. Pasquale “Pat” Pesare, Ann Lawson, Josephine Nebaldo-Pesare, Tony Pesare, Dr. Nazareth “Mac” Pesare, Elizabeth “Betty” Dickinson (twin sister), and Joseph Pesare Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or the American Heart Associaton. Envelopes are available at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant.