Maria Licari Martone by Tracy Bongianni

Former Lindenhurst and West Babylon resident Maria Licari Martone, who dedicated her life to her husband Michael and son Jake, died unexpectedly June 9, 2010 at home in Lindenhurst at the age of 37.

Born on June 25, 1972, the youngest of six siblings, she grew up in West Babylon and graduated from the West Babylon school district in 1990. She stayed local to the area and bought a house in Copiague after she married Michael Martone in August 1997 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst.

She was employed at RCI for several years until she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a mother. She then spent her time volunteering at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst where her son, Jake, attended school. She never missed a sporting event that her son was in.

“She was a very caring and devoted mother,” her brother Andrew Bongianni said.

Mrs. Martone was a shy, quiet person according to her childhood friend Margaret Galewski. Galewski met her in the first grade.

“I remember I would come into the cafeteria and there she would be with her school bus lunch box and her thermos full of milk,” Galewski said. “I would talk to her but she was so shy, she would pretend not to hear me.”

Mrs. Martone was so shy that Galewski had to initiate a friendship. “We would line up in the hallway at school and one day I tapped her on the shoulder and asked her if she wanted to be my friend. I didn’t get any words only a nod – the nod meant she wanted to be my friend.” Later that week they exchanged numbers and were lifelong friends. “I can’t remember a part of my life after our first week of friendship, that Maria and I were not together,” she continued, “I am so glad Maria let me into her world. I thank her for being the best friend anyone could ask for.”

Mrs. Martone’s brother Andrew remembered how his youngest sister would take in stray animals. “She had a big heart and she couldn’t bear the thought of animals suffering,” he said. “I remember one stray cat my sister found wondering the streets. She took the cat home and named her Paige. Then Paige had a kitten and she wouldn’t separate the mother from the baby, so Paige and her kitten lived with us too.”

Her husband Michael had a hard time remembering one special story to share because there are so many fond memories. But he added this, “Theone thing I have realized one month later is that while someone is alive we tend to take them for granted. I realize everyday the important role my wife had in my life as well as our son Jake .”

She leaves behind her husband, Michael and her son Jake. Her mother Angelina Licari and her siblings: Angela Albergo, Francesca Tripoli and her husband Richard, Victoria DeFranco, Rosemary B. Taylor and her husband Ronald G., Andrew Bongianni and his wife Tracy; her mother-in-law, Joanne Michael; her brothers- and sisters-in law Rosanna and Marty Ryan, Gerald Martone, Robert and Karla Martone and Christopher Martone also survive her. She is predeceased by her father, Jerry Licari

Mrs. Martone reposed at Johnston’s Funeral Home in Lindenhurst on June 13, 2010. A Funeral Mass was said on June 14th at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst. Interment followed at St. Charles in Farmingdale.