Marie Catherine (Bonanno) DiPilla (Nana) passed peacefully from congestive heart failure surrounded by family on July 20,2018.

She was born on May 10, 1929, though her father always told her she was actually born on May 9th. Since then we celebrated both days.

Marie was the daughter of Dominick Bonanno and May Iacono; both from Brooklyn, New York. Her mother died when she was four years old. She moved to North Hollywood with her father and stepmother. She married Charles Frances DiPilla and had two children, Michael and Gina. She is survived by her two children, six grandchildren: Danae, Lauren, Nicole, Marley, Dominique and Jake. She also has four great grandchildren: Rylan, Patrick, Kaylee and Emerson.

Marie was always involved with the community. She worked for Capistrano Unified School District as a yard duty attendant at Moulton Elementary, and a crossing guard at RH Dana Elementary. She was honored to be selected as Crossing guard of the Year in 1998.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Dana Point, on Saturday July 28 at 11:00am. Reception to follow.

Marie Catherine Bonanno DiPilla

You can say a lot about Marie…she was the Matriarch of our family, she was Nana to all, she was the wild New York Sicilian woman with the attitude to prove it and above all, the most loving and caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother a family could ask for.

Nothing was more important than watching over her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Guarding the family from all trials and tribulations of life. Always being supportive and loving. Perpetually offering her opinions and comments on every family member and friend surrounding her life. Criticisms, off-base, loving, and crazy are just some of the descriptive words that describe her commentaries and interpretations.

Her personality always shined brightly upon meeting people and friends. The motherly, Italian woman would consistently come forth with offers of food, words of advice and counsel on love and matchups.

She touched all she came in contact with. She cared more about others than she did about herself. She never really asked us for anything for herself, only to help our family members that needed it.

She was generous to a fault! Buying family Christmas presents starting in June and filling her room with boxes to the ceiling with at least 10 presents for each member of the family. Most were very nice but others were wacky. She loved celebrations…that brought the family together. THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HER LIFE.

We will all miss her beyond belief, but we know she is with her mother, father, brother, many family members and above all, the love of her life, our father Charles.