Obituary for
Maria "Susie" Dima
Maria Asunta (Susie) Dima was born on January 28, 1937 in Casabona, Italy to Francesco and Francesca Alessio who have since passed. Maria “Susie” Dima passed peacefully on April 1st 2017 in Margate, Florida at an age of 80 years.She is survived by her husband Giovanni and her three children, Nicola with wife Adele, Giovanni with wife Carmela, and Frank with wife Lisa. She is also survived by he rfour brothers Michael, Francesco, Mario, Vincenzo and one stepbrother Francisco along with her three sisters Fiorina, Teressa, and Leanora. She is preceded in death by he rbrother Alberigio and sister Josephine.
Maria “Susie” was best known by all as a loving Caregiver; her heart and her home was yours. Raised in the small farming town of Casabona, Italy she knew her share of work. But her work did not end in the fields, it continued in the home where her brothers and sisters were top priority. Since her mother passed at a young age, she took on the responsibility of “motherhood” in her youth. She was born to care for others and learned to put herself last. In doing this, she was put first in the eyes of many. She had the mindset that told her, when you do, you get. Although life was tough in that small farming town, life was good by being 1 of 10 children. Life was rich, not monetarily but rather with love of family and commitment. She then caught the eye of young man named Giovanni Dima and took his name in marriage in 1959. In 1962, two and a half years after their first child Nicola was born, they crossed continents and landed in New York. America is where they would live out the rest of their lives as proud Italian Americans. Nothing changed, however, as their heritage came along. Having her entire family in the US was just like old times…family, love, laughs, food, and music. Life was good in America. Susie's open heart and open home stretched across the oceans from Italy to the United States of America. She was the very foundation that held her family together. She loved to serve and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for others.
In 1968, Susie and husband Giovanni gave birth to their second son Giovanni. They were given the opportunity to move to sunny Florida in 1969, which they took and it was there where they would set their final roots and expand their family with another son, Francesco. Again, continuing to provide a strong and healthy home for her husband and three children, she was rewarded by life getting a little richer and her and her husband were able to finally purchase their very own first brand-new single family house in a brand-new neighborhood. She watered that lawn until it was the greenest on the block. As said, she was a nurturer, not only making sure everyone around was fed to the fullest, but that the lawn was properly fed too. One thing about Susie though, wherever she was, you could call home. Yes, no one or nothing went hungry in Susie's ’s house. No one or nothing went uncared for in Susie's house. After her three children were all married and brought eight grandchildren into her life, Marie Nicole, Giovanni, Nicholas, Alberto, Francesco, Nadia, Massimo and GianAntonio she was reborn and life gave her new meaning and eight more mouths to feed. It seemed as if she waited her whole life to be called Grandma and that role fit her perfectly. She would never talk down to her grandchildren, she would get on the floor and talk up to them...they adored her and they respected her. She was loyal to her husband, her children, her mother and father, her brothers and sisters, her friends, and her religion. She made everything around her better, even the people in her life. She just somehow made everyone feel secure and wanted. First and foremost, she was a wonderful mother and a mother’s love is an unrivaled force of nature. We can all learn much from her life. Her passing causes each of us to stop and take stock of our lives and measure who we are and who we’ve become. She would not have wanted us to mourn her death but rather to celebrate her life and would remind us to love our family unconditionally and to hold them close because in the end, they are all that matter.
Simply closing our eyes and evoking a memory of you, fills us with happiness, brings warmth to our hearts, and a smile to our face. Maria “Susie” Dima you will be deeply, deeply missed by all and the love that everyone holds for you will last into eternity…
Memorial Gathering April 4, 2017 from 6:30 - 8 PM Celebration of Life to follow at 8 PM.
Savino Weissman Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2950 N. State Rd 7, Margate Fl. 33063.
Please share your memories of Maria or express condolences to her family through this online book of memories
