Cecilia "Ceil" De Maria

16 July 1926 – 04 December 2020

Cecilia "Ceil" DeKenipp was born in 1926 and raised in Brooklyn, NY, the youngest of eight siblings. After working in Manhattan for a few years, she married her husband, Joe De Maria in 1948 and they remained married until his passing 58 years later in 2006. After the birth of their daughter Margaret "Peggy," they moved to Lakewood in 1951. Their intention was to work in the resorts for which the town was known at that time and continue travelling South to settle in Florida, but they were charmed by the beauty of the town and the small town lifestyle and set down roots. Ceil had a second child, named Joseph for his father. She became active in numerous community organizations. She found she was adept at fund raising and became President of the St. Mary's Academy Mother's Club and the Paul Kimble Hospital Ladies' Auxiliary. She also raised substantial funds for St. Mary of the Lake Church and Deborah Hospital and was active in the Catholic Daughters, Rosary Altar Society and Ocean County Democratic Organization. After her children were grown, she returned to the workforce as a survey interviewer. In that occupation, she delighted to meet and interview a large cross section of people and contributed to a multi-year longitudinal study for the American Cancer Society. She is survived by her daughter and son, son-in-law Richard Thompson, daughter-in-law Eridania De Maria, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Church, County Line Road, Lakewood on Friday, 10 September, at 12:00 noon. In her memory, the family would welcome donations to any of her favorite charities mentioned above.