Maria E. Chezum

Maria E. Chezum, 69, of Lititz, passed away peacefully at Hospice & Community Care in Mount Joy on Thursday, September 8, 2016. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Francis and Mary Teresa Foronda Limardo. Maria was the wife of the late Steven H. Chezum, who passed away in February of 2013.

Formerly of Malverne, NY, Maria was a Director of Human Resources for Eon Labs in Queens, NY, and the founder of Our Lady of Peace Lay Carmelite Community in Lynbrook, NY. She was an active and faithful member of St. James Catholic Church in Lititz and a member of the Red Rose Quilters Guild in Lancaster.

Maria had a soft spot in her heart for cats and cared for many of them that were in need of a loving home. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting and watching her favorite NASCAR driver, Joey Logano.

She is survived by a daughter, Mary Sinnott-Zervos, wife of Dino Zervos of Baldwin, NY; a son, Michael, husband of Katie Sinnott of Malverne, NY; a daughter, Kristi, wife of Jon Dougherty of Denver, CO; two grandchildren, Melina and Christopher Zervos; five sisters and three brothers. She is preceded in death by a brother.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at St. James Catholic Church, 505 Woodcrest Avenue, Lititz, on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM. There will be a viewing at the Buch-Heisey Funeral Home, 216 South Broad St., Lititz, on Tuesday evening, September 13, 2016 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Interment will be at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Maria may be made to the Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602, Gift of Life Donor Program, 401 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 or Carmelite Friars, PO Box 3079, Middletown, NY 10940-0890.