Maria Rose Alimena, a science and music teacher and beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2022, at her home in Rye, N.Y. She was 97 and was grateful to have lived a long and rewarding life.
Born on May 23, 1925, in Everett, Mass., she was the daughter of A. Marino and Filomena Mazzone. After attending Everett Public Schools, she went on to Emmanuel College in Boston, where she received a degree in Biology in 1947.
On September 8, 1951, she married Dr. Benjamin S. Alimena, who predeceased her in 2019.
Early in her career, she worked at The Rockefeller Institute in Manhattan. In addition to caring for her family, she gave piano lessons in her home to many students and taught biology, and anatomy and physiology, at the School of the Holy Child in Rye.
In retirement, she continued to volunteer at the Manhattanville College Library and conducted cultural exchange programs over many years for newcomers at the Rye Free Reading Room. She was an active participant of the Rye Rec Seniors.
Mrs. Alimena served her community as a Eucharistic Minister at her parish, Church of the Resurrection. She was also a longtime member of the Rye Interfaith Committee.
In addition to being an accomplished pianist who gave recitals and was the accompanist for theater productions and the glee club at her college, she enjoyed playing tennis and walking the Playland Boardwalk. She especially enjoyed sharing her love of the natural world with students at outdoor programs in the area.
What was most important to Maria Alimena, however, was her family. She is survived by her sons, Paul and his wife Judy and their children Ben (Yasmine) and Chris, and Marc and his wife Peggy and their children Stephanie and Nicole, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss her greatly but keep cherished memories of this special lady. She was predeceased by her sister Flora Joyce, and her brother Judge A. David Mazzone, and was close to and proud of both.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated December 3 at Church of the Resurrection.
Donations in Maria Alimena’s memory may be made to the Annual Fund for Holy Child or the Annual Campaign of the Rye Free Reading Room, two of her favorite organizations.
