Sister Maria Vittoria de Zerman, IHM

Sister Maria Vittoria de Zerman, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Gioia) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Wednesday, January 28, 2004, at the Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA.

Born on March 28, 1917 in Turin, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Count Silvio and Countess Ruth Willits de Zerman. The family emmigrated to the United States in 1923, and settled near Oyster Bay, NY. She entered the IHM Congregation on February 2, 1935, made temporary profession of her vows on May 2, 1938, and final profession of her vows on August 2, 1941.

Sister Maria Vittoria served as a teacher at the following schools: Cathedral Elementary School in Scranton, PA, from 1942 to 1943; Holy Rosary Elementary Schol in Scranton, PA, from 1944 to 1949; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School in Asbury Park, NJ; Most Holy Rosary Elementary School in Syracuse, NY; St. Matthew Elementary School in Wilmington, DE; St. Paul Elementary School in Cranston, RI; and Sacred Heart Elementary School in Mount Holly, NJ. She also taught at elementary schools located in Pittsburgh, PA; Baltimore, MD; and Washington, NC.

From 1996 until the time of her death, Sister Maria Vittoria served as a prayer minister at the Marian Convent in Scranton, PA.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education, and a Master of Science degree in education, both from Marywood College.

She was preceded in death by a brother, 2LT Guy (de Zerman) Remington, and a sister, Denise (Denyse de Zerman) Mott.

She is survived by a nephew, Jordan Mott, Jr., of Grants Pass, OR; a grandnephew, Jordan Mott, III, of Studio City, CA; and grandnieces, Stacy Lazor of Beverly Hills, MI, and Denise Giori Maas of Rochester Hill, MI.

The funeral will be Monday, February 2, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at the Marian Convent. Interment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, PA. Friends may call at the Marian Convent between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m.