Maria Nunzia (Intrigliolo) Chiacchio, 77, a resident of Haverhill, MA., passed on October 13, 2024, surrounded by her beloved family at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston. She was the devoted wife of Gerolamo (Mimmo) Chiacchio with whom she shared 51 years of marriage. She was born in Francofonte (Siracusa,Sicily) and raised in Catania (Sicily) before she moved with her family to the United States in 1985. Maria held several fulfilling careers; however, most of her professional life was spent working for the Merrimack Valley Transit (MEVA) until her retirement in 2012.

Maria had a deep-rooted passion for her Italian heritage. She thoroughly enjoyed Italian cooking and did so often because she loved how it brought everyone together. Her dishes were loved by everyone who knew her, most notably her homemade arancini, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and caponata. She also enjoyed making new desserts and searching Instagram to try different recipes (and of course, make better). She took great pride in teaching the Italian language at Northern Essex Community College, where despite having high expectations, she was well respected by her students and her peers. She also taught Italian at the Haverhill Citizen Center. Maria had a vast love for gardening and an impressive green thumb. Her home was full of several dozen plants, and she took pleasure in teaching her granddaughters to appreciate the same. She also enjoyed playing solitaire on her phone and connecting with family and friends on Facebook. Maria had the most genuine and enormous heart, always eager to help others. She belonged to – and volunteered at – several associations including the Haverhill Citizen Center where she also taught Italian, volunteered for bingo, and spent ample time knitting different items for Veterans, hats for the nurseries at local hospitals, and hats for children suffering from terminal illnesses with the Knitting Club. She was also a member of the Haverhill Sons of Italy, the Italian Serenaders, and the Friendship Shop at the Haverhill Public Library. By far, Maria's biggest joys in life were her two granddaughters, Victoria and Alexandra. They were the light in her heart and the happiness in her smile.

Ti ameremo per sempre e ci mancherai ogni giorno. Dio ti benedica finché non ti rivedremo.

Maria is dearly loved and sorely missed by her husband, Gerolamo; two children Giuseppe (Joe) Chiacchio and his wife, Shelby of Haverhill, MA and Chiara (Chiacchio) Wersoski and her husband Stephen of Haverhill, MA; and her two adoring grandchildren, Victoria and Alexandra Wersoski, also of Haverhill. Maria is also survived by her sister, Silvana Spampinato from Catania, Sicily; two nieces, Francesca and Federica, from Catania, Sicily; cousins John Torrisi and his wife, Suzanne of Haverhill, MA, and Charlene Cianci and her husband, Robert of Tampa, Florida; her brother-in-law, Ugo Chiacchio from Catania, Sicily and sister-in-law, Anna Martines from Padova, northern Italy; her cousin, Rosalba Aldaresi of Staten Island, New York; dear friends, Enrico and Alma Mannino of Valverde (Sicily); as well as several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to remember Maria and offer condolences to her family on Friday, October 18, 2024 from 1:30PM to 3:30PM at the Berube-Comeau Funeral Home on 47 Broadway in Haverhill, MA. A Mass will follow at 4:00PM at All Saints Parish, 120 Bellevue Ave., also in Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html.