Obituary: Maria Marta (Piselli, Zboray) Ramsey, 90, Of Newtown

Information and Photo Courtesy Honan Funeral Home

NEWTOWN, CT — Maria Marta (Piselli, Zboray) Ramsey reunited with the Lord in Heaven after a long term challenge with Alzheimer’s Disease on Friday, May 19, 2023. Born in Settefrati, Italy on February 4, 1933, Maria (Mary) immigrated to the United States after WWII along with her mother Maria Elisabetta Socci (Nonnie), father Antonio Piselli, and two brothers Loreto and Cesidio Piselli (deceased) when she was 14 years of age. After learning English and attending New Canaan High School simultaneously, she worked for Austin Chevrolet and made lots of friends at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk.

In 1959 Maria married Andrew J. (Buzz) Zboray (deceased). While living in New Canaan and Stamford in the 1960s, they welcomed four children. In 1973, they all moved Newtown where all four children grew and ultimately graduated from Newtown High School.

Married to Don Ramsey in 1996, Maria was best known by him, her family, and her friends as a humble servant of the Lord and a loving mother. Obtaining her CNA Certification in the late 1980s, Maria cared for clients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other long term health conditions, many times when clients were younger than her. As an active member of His Vineyard Christian Fellowship for nearly 30 years, Maria was known to exemplify the "Fruits of The Spirit." Always forgiving and compassionate, Maria loved others and exemplified Luke 6:20-37 as guideposts for living a Christ-centered life.

Maria was the commensurate lover of the mountains and outdoors. Often her family marveled yet fretted over her independent propensity to wander and explore spontaneously. She loved to dance, grow vegetables, and eat natural, healthy foods. Her greatest pleasures were opportunities to visit her children all over the country and to help raise her grandchildren. Some of her most special memories also included attending retreats with her husband Don a tthe Monadnock Bible Conference in Jaffrey, New Hampshire and exploring New England together. Her homemade apple pies and Italian sauces were well known. Picking wild blueberries, making Italian pasta and mailing her children batches of oatmeal cookies and broccoli rabe were also favorite pastimes for Maria.

Along with her loving husband, Don, Maria leaves behind her adoring children AnnMarie (Rob) in SC, Lisa in GA, Michael (Gretchen) in ME, and Andrew D. (Lindsay Webb) in NH as well as six grandchildren: Kaitlyn (Joe), Kimberly, KellyAnn, Eilon, Tobiah, and Alden and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family also wishes to extend deep appreciation to the Filosa/Hancock Hall Rehabilitation Center Staff who lovingly attended to Maria with a sense of extended family during her final years.

Services with the family will be private at the Newtown Village Cemetery with a gravesite celebration of her life and testimony by those in attendance. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, friends are welcomed to make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or to His Vineyard Christian Fellowship located on 2 Vail Road, Bethel, CT 06801.