Marie Cerchio

Marie Carmela (Sale) Cerchio, 97, was born on April 29, 1927, in New Haven, Conn., and passed away peacefully on February 25, 2025, in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. She was the daughter of Andrea and Maria Sale and was one of nine children.

Marie was devoted to her beloved husband, Carmine Cerchio, for 48 years until his passing in 1998. Together, they built a loving family that was a source of pride and joy for Marie throughout her life. She is survived by her children: Salvatore Cerchio, Dante Cerchio and Andrea Busby, along with their spouses. Marie's legacy continues through her cherished nine grandchildren, their spouses, and her 12 great-grandchildren who brought her immense joy and happiness.

The consummate mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Marie’s family and faith were the focus of her life. In the Italian tradition, most of our fondest memories of our mother and grandmother center around food and family – the Christmas Eve fish feast with fresh zeppole for dessert at midnight. Palm Sunday called for manicotti and the best minestre soup with giant Easter baskets for her grandkids. The cookie tin was always full, and she asked anyone who stopped by if they were hungry because her greatest joy was feeding us.

Marie was known for making mountains of Italian cookie trays – particularly her specialty daisy cookies – along with her sisters, for all her nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren's weddings. She was the master of eggplant parm and pickled eggplant, and her pizza-making dinners were epic. The close-knit Sale siblings and their spouses enjoyed regular visits with each other’s families, countless weddings and anniversary celebrations and family picnics at local parks – traditions we continue in their and our family’s honor.

Known as “Mema”, "Nonnie" or "Grandma" to her grandchildren, she enjoyed crocheting blankets for all of them and writing letters that remain treasured by all of her beloved family. For her grandkids’ birthdays, she always gave them a Broadway gift certificate along with extra cash to cover the exact sales tax.

Marie’s work passion was bookkeeping and she combined her skill with numbers and her faith by working at All Saints Catholic Church and with the Daughters of Charity order of nuns.

Marie instilled in her family a love for cooking, enjoying family and friends with a good meal and an open home to all she loved. She also taught us how to love and trust in God. The Cerchio and Sale family traditions – as well as Marie’s spirit and love – remain very much alive in her children, grandchildren and all who knew her.

Funeral services and a celebration of Marie’s life will be on  Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow on March 20, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled with care by Douglass & Zook Funeral and Cremation Services in Monrovia, Calif.