Maria Paola Piluso
Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and patriot: Maria Piluso, 87 years old, passed away on Easter Sunday (April 8, 2012) while a rehabilitation resident at the Life Care Center of Colorado Springs, exactly 28 years to the day after her husband passed away.
A fifty-six year resident of Security, Maria was born January 23, 1925 in Bergamo, Italy; widowed after 30 years of marriage to the late SSG (Ret.) Raymond J. Piluso, Sr. She is survived by brothers Silvo and Giuseppe Valenti, and sister Janet (Valenti) Angelini; who reside in France. Beloved mother to four sons: Christian Valenti and wife Ada; Raimondo Piluso, Jr. and wife Bettie; Rodolfo Piluso and wife Rebecca; Mario Piluso and wife Kristin. Maria is the devoted grandmother of 12 awesome grandchildren: Maria Valenti, Christian C. Valenti, Raimondo Piluso III, Rosanna Piluso, Melissa Mitton, Rory Piluso, Angela Walter, Danielle Piluso, Katina Piluso, John Piluso, Michelle Piluso, and Neena Piluso. She is also the graciously loving Great-Grandmother of 8 incredible great-grandchildren: Nicholas Chisholm; Cailean Chisholm; Aubree Mendez; Cindy Arias; Ariana Walter; Breaden Mitton; Hunter Walter; and Savanna Mitton.
The true immigrant patriot, Maria devoted her life to service of her adopted country and the community that she loved. She cherished and devoted her life to service to others and the ideals for which America stood for. A consummate supporter of our military and their families, she was extremely very proud of the military and veterans service provided by her late husband, sons, granddaughter and grandsons. Maria spent tens of thousands of volunteer hours in local military hospitals; at the Peterson AFB Thrift Shop; in local nursing homes; at the Fountain Valley Senior Citizens Center; mentoring in District 3 schools; in numerous American Legion projects; decades of service through the VFW Auxiliary; and leading bingo through the VFW and The REA. Maria received numerous awards for service by many of the organizations she served.
Entrepreneur and devoted business woman, Maria and her husband owned and operated two successful businesses: Piluso’s Spaghetti and Steak House in Manitou Springs and Odell’s House of Pizza in Stratmoor Hills. Retired from food service management after working many years with Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Maria was repeatedly recognized for her leadership and personnel management skills.
Traveled widely in Europe and throughout America, Maria also enjoyed many hobbies including spending time and teaching her grandchildren board games.
Visitors may express their condolences on Friday, April 13, 2012, from 5 – 7 pm at the Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd., Colorado Springs. There will be a recitation of the Catholic Rosary following the viewing at 7 pm.
As a member of St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church in Security; a funeral mass of catholic burial, will be celebrated by Msgr. Donald Dunn, held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 10 am. Maria will be attended by pallbearers: Christian Valenti, Raimondo Piluso, Jr., Rodolfo Piluso, Mario Piluso, Christian C. Valenti, Raimondo Piluso III, Rory Piluso and John Piluso.
Gravesite services and interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery following the funeral mass, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband. Reception will follow at 12:30 pm at Cheyenne Mountain VFW Post 3917, 4715 Clearview Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80911.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make a donation of remembrance to Operation Warrior Reconnect through the Roever Foundation (http://www.roeverfoundation.org/project.)
“If we live in the hearts we leave behind we do not die”.