Maria D. (Padula) DiSalvo passed away at the Kindred Hospital in Peabody, on March 20, 2011. She was 84 years of age. Mrs. DiSalvo was born in Civitanova del Sannio, Italy on May 14, 1926 to the late Domenico & Lucia (Lastoria) Padula. She was raised in Italy and came to the United States in 1957 at the age of 31. She lived in Revere for a short time and was a resident of Chelsea until 2005. She has lived in Melrose with her daughter for the past 6 years. Maria was a loving wife, mother & homemaker who cherished the times spent with her family. Mrs. DiSalvo was a longtime member of St. Rose of Lima Church in Chelsea and was well known at the Chelsea Senior Center; where she enjoyed dancing, bowling and was an accomplished bocce player. Maria looked forward to playing bocce with Mayor Menino every year. She was the beloved wife of 64 years to Michael DiSalvo. Devoted mother of Domenic DiSalvo & his wife Dorothy of Billerica, Adele Dantona of Melrose and the late Rita DiSalvo and the late Lucia "Lucy" DeSimone. Loving grandmother of Michael & his wife Gen of Montreal, Daniel & his fiance Arlene of Stow, Andrea & her fianc Matthew of Tewksbury and Brittany & Anthony Dantona of Melrose. Great grandmother of Ariana, Bella, Lauren, Domenic & Ashley. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Thursday, March 24th at 9:30AM. A Funeral Mass to celebrate Maria's life at St. Rose of Lima Church, 601 Broadway Chelsea at 11AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4:00-8:00PM. Entombment in Holy Cross Mausoleum in Malden. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in Maria's name may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.