Mary Margaret Maida, age 88, passed away at her home at senior living facility, Chelton Apartments. Born in Wilmington, DE, she was the daughter of the late James A. and Clara C. (Degli Obizzi) Maida. Her parents owned the Maida Pharmacy on Lancaster Ave. and Harrison St. where Mary spent her free time helping out in the store. She was predeceased by her brother, Dominic J. Maida, Sr, and her sisters Ann (Maida) Marusa and Clara (Maida) Kopecki and their spouses, Jeanine (Zimny) Maida, Zenon Marusa and Dr. Robert Kopecki, respectively.

Mary was a graduate of St. Elizabeth High School and attended St. Francis nursing program after graduation, followed by brief employment at DuPont. After raising her five children, she returned to her dream of becoming a nurse, graduating from Delaware Technical Community College as an LPN, specializing in geriatrics. During her nursing career she cared for many of Wilmington's prominent residents in their home during their final years.

Mary's greatest joy was sharing holidays and special moments in her children's and grandchildren's lives. She never forgot a birthday or holiday of her family and friends.

Later in life, she joined the Fraim Senior Center in Elsmere which rekindled her love of drawing and painting of which several of her beautiful paintings now grace her family's homes.

Throughout her life, Mary quietly instilled in her family the sense of sharing and philanthropy by her example of doing. No matter where she was in her life, she was always giving back to her community. She held backyard carnivals for charity fundraisers when her children were little, she was a Sunday school teacher at St. John the Beloved R.C. Church and a Brownie Scout Leader. Lately, she was active at Chelton, helping with the organized events, especially sharing her love and knowledge of oldie movies. The constant beacon in her life has been her church, her love of God and celebrating mass regularly.

Mary is survived by her children, Mary Louise (Zdrojewski) Cannatelli, Kathy Zdrojewski, Patricia Ann (Zdrojewski) Allen, Eileen (Zdrojewski) Carl and her husband Robert Carl, and Joseph Robert Zdrojewski IV and his wife Cindy (Grodzicki) Zdrojewski; her former husband of 46 years, Joseph Robert Zdrojewski III; her grandchildren, Michelle Cannatelli and Roger Richardson, Domenick J. and Lisa (Prost) Cannatelli, Jonathan Edler and Brie Dellinger, Paul Allen, Jr., Theresa Allen, Heather (Grandstaff) and Justin Williams, Joseph S. Zdrojewski and Cecil Zdrojewski; great grandchildren, Domenique, Dante, Camryn, Easton, Avery, Ruby, Greyson, Rylie and Landon; and great great grandchild, Autumn; her longtime friend Edie Sheridan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.

At her family's request, a private Christian burial will be held at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages acts of kindness and generosity in Mary's memory, reflecting the love and compassion she shared with the word to the Food Bank of Delaware (222 Lake Dr, Newark, DE 19702) or Faithful Friends Animal Society (165 Airport Rd, New Castle, DE 19720).