Maria A. Calamia

EAST MONTPELIER – Maria Ann Calamia, 61, a long-time resident of the County Road, passed away on Monday, July 9, 2018 at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin with her loving family at her bedside.

Born May 6, 1957 in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of Charles and Ann (Cassara) Calamia. Maria graduated from Grover Cleveland High School. Following high school, she made her home in New York City until 1975 when she moved to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom eventually settling in Central Vermont in 1992.   She received a bachelor’s degree from Johnson State College in 1980.

On May 30, 1981, Maria married William Kelly in Lowell, VT.

She was employed as the Assistant Financial Aid Director at the Community College of Vermont for 25 years, where she also taught math classes and she tutored math students at Vermont Technical College.

Maria was an active member of the Montpelier Area Senior Center, the Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, and several cancer support groups. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, folk music and dance, along with travel, both inside and outside Vermont’s borders.

She supported many causes and was most committed to animal protection, environmental issues, and human rights. She was caring and generous to those around her, always offering love and support to her family and friends. Maria’s greatest passion was for her grandchildren, who gave her much joy and a deeper appreciation for the miracles that life brings.

Her open spirit of kindness, her laughter, her positive attitude and courageous journey through cancer, gave us cause to reflect graciously on the gifts she has bestowed.

Survivors include her husband William Kelly of East Montpelier; her daughters Erin Kelly of Florence, MA; and Rae Kelly of Olympia, WA; her granddaughter Gwendolyn and grandson Orin, both of Olympia, WA; her brother Vito Calamia of Merrick, Long Island, NY.

She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers Jack and Joseph Calamia.

A fitting service in her honor will be announced later this season.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Branches of Hope, please specify “Cancer Center Patient Fund” in the memo of your check and send to: Office of Development, Central Vermont Medical Center, PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641.