Krystina Morton

My grandmother would have turned 100 this past December. She passed away in 1983, twelve days prior to my twelfth birthday. She succumbed to an extremely brave and tumultuous five year battle with breast and bone cancers. There is not a day that goes by when her influence is not felt by the members of our family.
Mary DelDuca Maruffi was born in Philadelphia in 1916. Her parents were the children of Italian immigrants, who struggled to make ends meet in an urban environment. They relocated to Southern New Jersey with the hopes of making a better life. Mary learned how to be resilient and resourceful as a child, which carried over into her adult years. She passed those traits down to her two daughters, both of whom grew up to become teachers, and strong willed people in their own right.
Although she was not able to attend high school or college, Mary found ways to educate herself through reading and hard work. She married in the early 1940’s, and somehow found ways to support her family without much, if any, assistance from her spouse. She spent a number of years helping in her parents’ tavern. And although she was unable to drive, she took time to eventually develop into a solid seamstress. She somehow found ways to collect pin money to buy fabric and make clothing for her own children. She even saved enough money to solely assist one of her daughters in paying for their college education.
Years later, Mary worked as a machine operator for the Hoover Brothers Clothing Company, constructing uniforms for the US Military. After retiring from that role, she helped to make doll clothing for her niece’s craft business. Through the years, Mary subconsciously instilled the values that have served to guide her family into their own lives. Always in service to those around her, she rarely took time for her own interests and needs. She was known to find ways to enrich her children’s lives; whether it was a toy or even a piano, she made sure to encourage their dreams.
As for the influence she has made on my life…it is immeasurable. Mary’s is the voice that tells me to ignore the negative thoughts. She always directed me to follow my own path, and do what makes me happy. She was always the person that gave me the space to play and grow without judgment. It never mattered what I did or created, she approved of it all. I have chosen to develop a life in the arts and cultural environment. I continue to develop the skills she tried to instill in my work with various mediums and crafts. I have chosen to be of service in projects that bring out people’s creativity, and celebrate their hearts and souls. As for my cousins, both have followed the family tradition of becoming teachers. One works with pre-school children, while the other develops training methods for special needs children. They are beginning their own families, and I hope they will pass down the same values that have been handed down to their children. I also hope that one day Mary’s great granddaughters will understand the numerous sacrifices she made to provide for her family, as well as the strength that it took for her to find her own version of success.
What mattered to her most was how you treated others, how you fought for your family and how you should make the best with what you have. Regardless of your education, if your heart guides you, you will always be successful.