Maria Ellena Smarra Pierce

Maria Ellena Smarra-Pierce, 54, of Danielson, CT, formerly of Worcester, passed away on Monday, December 31, 2012 in UMass Hospital. Maria is survived by her loving husband of fourteen years, Kenneth R. Pierce; two sons, Jonas Pierce of Webster and Richard Slye, Jr. of Hartford, CT; two daughters, Heather Pierce and her fiancé Pasquale Roldan and Evelynjanice "EJ" Pierce of Webster; her parents, Nicola and Addolorata (Martone) Smarra of Worcester; two brothers, Domenic Smarra and his wife Anna Concetta and their children, Christina and Nicholas of Oxford and Salvatore Smarra and his wife Elizabeth and their children, Sierra, Salvatore II, and Lucia of Worcester; many aunts, uncles and cousins. Maria was born in San Nicola, La Strada, Italy, and moved, with her family, to Canada at the age of 6. She and her family came to Worcester, where she has lived for most of her life and where she graduated in 1976, from North High School. She moved to Danielson on July 4, 2005. Maria was trained as a CNA and worked at UMass and several area nursing homes. Her passion however was creating things with her remarkable ability to sew. She was a talented seamstress and dress maker. She loved her family and kept them warm with love, encouragement and the many blankets she made over the years. She was extremely fond of her extended church family at Bible Fellowship Church in Thompson, CT. Calling hours for Maria will be held on Friday, January 4, from 4 p.m. until 7p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. There will be a prayer service following at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 5, at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry Street, Worcester.(kindly proceed directly to church) Entombment in Notre Dame Mausoleum will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations in her memory may be made to Bible Fellowship Church, 400 Quinebaug Road, Quinebaug, CT 06262.