Obituary of Marie J. DiMaio

Marie J. DiMaio, 85, formerly of 3 Gilberds St., passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at the Lutheran Home & Rehabilitation Center. She was the widow of the late Aldino A. "Al" DiMaio whom she married September 29, 1951 and who died November 18, 2010. Marie was born July 1, 1929 in Dunkirk, NY, a daughter of the late Dominic and Anna Greco Bennice, and graduated from Dunkirk High School. In her early 20's she was a beautician in Dunkirk and then Jamestown. She later worked as a teacher's aide in the Jamestown Public Schools from the 1970's until her retirement in 1992. Marie was a member of Ss Peter & Paul Church, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and took communion to shut-in members of the church. In the 1960's, she was instrumental in the formation of support groups for parents of special-needs children. Marie enjoyed baking, cooking and gardening and loved to dance. She will be remembered for her unprecedented patience, kindness and compassion with and for others. She always had time to support others in time of challenge or rejoice with them in times of happiness. Marie and her late husband, Al, enjoyed many a time dancing to the big band sounds of yesteryear as well as local bands. "Blue Eyes" as her husband called her, and "Twinkle Toes" as he was known, could really cut a rug. She is survived by a daughter, Deborah A. (Stephen) Szwejbka of Jamestown and a grandson, Matthew (Vanessa) Szwejbka of Clay, NY; a brother, Frank (Josie) Bennice of Dunkirk; several nieces and nephews; and two longtime friends, Carol Johnson and Minerva Laughlin, both of Jamestown. In addition to her husband, Marie was preceded in death by a son, Dean A. DiMaio who died August 6, 2012; three sisters, Josephine SanFilippo, Kay Hendrickson and Fran Bucy; and two brothers, Anthony and Angelo Bennice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Thursday in Holy Apostles Parish, Ss Peter & Paul Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende will be celebrant. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 3:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Michelle K. Reynolds Leukemia Fund, c/o The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., or The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Ave., both Jamestown, NY 14701.