Maria Polito Carpenter (nee Giacobbe), born July 26, 1945, in Philadelphia, PA to Stellario and Theresa Giacobbe. Maria lived in Hammonton, NJ for the first eighteen years of her life. Maria attended Trenton State College (now College of New Jersey) and graduated with a degree in English Secondary Education in 1967. She married John Polito in that year and together they had a son, Stephen, in 1969. Maria taught English for 15 years and subsequently became a Middle School Principal. She taught in Bergenfield, NJ and Gloucester Township, NJ. She received her master’s degree in Secondary Administration from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in 1983. Her administrative career began and ended in Washington Township, NJ. The highlight of her educational career was the opening of Chestnut Ridge Middle School in 1989.

Maria is predeceased by her parents, Stellario and Theresa (nee Inferrera); her sister, Antoinette Campione; ex-husband, John Polito; in-laws, John and Josephine Polito and Florence Carpenter.

Maria is survived by her husband, David; son, Stephen, (Mok Hee) and grandchildren, Grace and Stephen Gyu; sister, Ellen Clark.  Also survived by her niece, Teresa (Bill) DelRossi; nephews, George Campione and Jefferson (Courtney) Clark; great nieces April (Ron) Cushinotta, Rachel Mangano and a host of very dear friends: Carole DelVecchio, Vivian Morrissey, Janice Carchidi, MaryLou Chiango, Tekla Volpe and Anne O”Neill.

Family and friends are invited to her viewing Thursday 12:30 – 2:30 pm at Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Rd., Washington Twp. Funeral Service 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Musicopia at https://secure.givelively.org//donate/musicopia-inc/stephen-polito