Pia Ida Cataldi

Pia Ida Cataldi, age 95, passed away peacefully on Monday October 12, 2020 in Silver Spring, MD surrounded by her family at home. She was born on November 14, 1924 in Villa Basilica, Province of Lucca, Italy. She was the youngest of 9 children.

As a young adult, she was a schoolteacher in Italy until her marriage to her loving husband Gino Cataldi in 1947.  They moved to the United States in 1948 and resided in the Washington, DC area, and was blessed with 4 children, Lucy, Joanne, Nancy, and John.   The family then moved to Beltsville, MD in 1965.  She spent her time taking care of 13 grandchildren, many of her great grandchildren, and taking many of them on trips to visit family in Italy.  Pia was married to Gino for 55 years until his death in 2002.

She was more than a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She was the absolute heart of the Cataldi family. She was a devout Catholic, devoted to Our Lady. She was a cherished parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church and was involved in the Prayer Apostolate Group and Rosary Makers.  She taught her family and all her grandchildren how to pray, especially the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet. Her life revolved around the Blessed Mother and the various apparitions that occurred throughout the world.  EWTN Catholic Network was an integral part of her life. This fostered a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith to all who were around her.

She will be remembered as the matriarch of her family, by her strong faith, the faith that she instilled in her family, her evangelism, her kindness, and her great cooking.

Pia is survived by her children and spouses, Lucy and Bob Gorsky, Joanne and Melvin Campbell, Nancy and Randy Dudley, John and Dana Cataldi, 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

The visitation is on Monday, October 19 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Beltsville, MD 20705 at 11:00 AM followed by mass at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Aspen Hill section of Silver Spring, Maryland at 2:00 PM.

On behalf of the family, we would like to thank her day care giver Gloria, her night care givers Jennifer and Irene from Warman Home Care, and her hospice nurse Muni and the staff of the Jewish Social Service Agency.

Also, we want to thank everyone who joined us today and for those who sent their condolences. It is a great comfort for all of us during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting prayers and masses to be said for her soul.