August 31, 2023, Marie Jovanelly, 97, passed away peacefully at her home in Murrieta, California, surrounded by her family. Marie lived a full and happy life and touched countless individuals during her nearly century on earth.
Born Marie Josephine Marro on March 8, 1926, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Gaetano and Nellie Marro. She had two younger siblings: Vincent, who passed already, and Angela, who still lives in Connecticut. On June 15, 1946, she married Michael Jovanelly, with whom she had seven children, and the family moved to California in 1960. Marie was unvaryingly a loving mother to all her children, equally a devoted presence in their lives as well as in the kitchen, where she passionately crafted huge Italian feasts that fostered familial relationships and invariably brought happiness and joy.
Without question, Marie lived her life as the personification of love and compassion. She lived selflessly for and with her family, and to all who knew her she was a saint, purely altruistic in every aspect of her life. Everyone who knew her loved her, as there was no other way. For many years she took care of her son, Michael, after he suffered from kidney failure and was destined to weekly dialysis. Michael left this earth before her, as well as her daughter Judy from cancer.
Marie blessed this earth with 46 descendants before she passed: from her 7 children were born 15 grandchildren, then 22 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. But her genealogy continues, and this world will surely be blessed with many more souls, heirs of her love and saintly spirit, and her Godly character will be remembered and passed on for generations to come. She loved and was loved contagiously; she will be missed.
Every day of her adult life she read the Bible, prayed, and further developed a relationship with her Savior, Jesus, and now she lives with Him in eternal peace. There she joins children Michael and Judy, as well as two grandchildren, Jesslyn and Danny.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation to the Saint Jude Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.
