Maria Stella (Mannino) Maltese, age 87 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, August 29, 2021 at home, surrounded by her cherished family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in Cinisi, Italy on August 27, 1934, daughter of the late Salvatore and Josephine Abbate Mannino, Stella came to the United States in 1946 at the age of eleven and first settled in Brooklyn, NY with family as did most immigrants at that time. The family then moved to Ringoes, NJ, then for a brief time to Detroit, MI, before coming back to Raritan Borough, NJ where they lived for several years before moving to Raritan Township in 1972 where she has resided ever since.

The matriarch of a large and loving family, Stella was the quintessential ‘Sicilian Mom’ who worked hard to ensure her family had what they needed, and of course that they were well fed at all times!

Stella’s story starts as the eldest of six siblings, helping her parents ensure that all the Mannino children were well taken care of, and learned the value of being in America. In fact, she even left high school early to go to work as a seamstress to help support the family. Though preceded in death by Anthony in 1999, Norman (Nunzio) in 2010, Salvatore in 2015, and Fred on August 21, 2021, Stella ensured that their legacies and childhood antics were well remembered by the entire family. She and her only sister, Connie, always enjoyed having four brothers and the Mannino siblings were well regarded by all who knew them.

With an angelic voice, Stella was known to sing at a young age and her home was always filled with beautiful melodies. In fact, it was in kindergarten, when singing ‘O Sole Mio,  where she was spotted by a young Nicolo “Nick” Maltese who was taken aback by her amazing voice. The connection was instantaneous, and Nick was smitten. They were each other’s first and only love and were wed at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Lambertville, NJ on June 4, 1955. A reception at the American Legion in Flemington, NJ followed and they began a life that would come to be a light and guide for all who encountered the couple.

As they aged and medical issues plagued them both, they still managed to stay by each other’s side, no matter the circumstances. Their love and devotion to one another was, is and always will be an inspiration to many. Nick passed with Stella by his side on December 28, 2018.

Their union would be blessed with four children, Margarita, Philip, Joanne, and Salvatore, who would each go on to extend the family with spouses and make Stella a grandmother and great grandmother, titles she cherished.

An amazing chef, Stella used meal times as a way to bring the family together and her home was known to have an open door policy where you were welcome, but you had to eat and share in the love of family and friends!

She and Nick came from very humble beginnings and though very proud of their Sicilian heritage, they were equally proud of the life they created in the United States through hard work.  In 1968, with Stella by his side and ensuring the operation ran smoothly while raising a family, the first Nicola’s Pizza opened in Lambertville, NJ. This began Stella and Nick’s legacy as not only successful entrepreneurs, but also as true beacons of light and hope for many.

Their many restaurants and other endeavors included “Nicola’s Pizza” located in Lambertville, Branchburg, Somerset, Califon and North Plainfield, NJ; Mr. Nick’s Pizza, New Providence, NJ; Nicola’s Pizza Aroma, Easton, PA; Neighbors Pizza, Flemington, NJ; Nicola’s Pizza Shoppe, New Hope, PA; Café Europa, New Hope, PA; Restaurant Maltese, New Hope, PA; Venice Tile & Furniture, Flemington, NJ; and Nicolas Brickhouse Pizza, Branchburg, NJ. They also constructed Neighbors Plaza retail shopping center in Califon, New Jersey. Through it all, Stella was a driving force in ensuring that the quality and focus of their service to all peoples never varied or wavered.

Her dedication to hard work served as an example to her own children and the extended family as she sewed their clothes, kept the home, and managed the businesses all at once. She also ensured that each day, the meals were homemade and fresh, and that time together was sacred. It was more than just cooking or food—food was life! Those feasts at the Maltese homestead, especially the traditional Sunday dinners, were events that people cherished and looked forward to, because they were times of love.

Though work and family consumed much of Stella’s time, she also had many hobbies including going to the Tropicana and Showboat Casinos in Atlantic City where she ruled the roulette table as well as the blackjack and poker tables. She also enjoyed bowling, creating new recipes from old ones, dancing the tarantella and tango, driving her 1980 Black Cadillac Seville, and of course singing at every turn! Additionally, while living in Raritan, she was a well respected Avon Lady and was always known to look her best.

A longtime communicant of St. Magdalen Church, faith was at the core of Stella’s beliefs and she leaned on the Lord many times in life when things were difficult. This allowed her to see her own inner strength and navigate whatever path was in front of her, and many times this involved her making a new path which she did with grace and selflessness.

Though saddened by her passing, Stella would want you to take solace in that she is home with her, “Honey”, her Nick, as well as her siblings and all those who have passed from death to eternal life. Stella, may you rest with the angels and let your good works continue to shine through all those whom you have inspired through your time here on Earth.

In addition to her husband, parents and siblings, she was preceded in death by two sons-in-laws, Joseph Torina and David Braun.

Surviving are her children, Margarita Torina, Philip Maltese, Joanne Braun, and Salvatore and his wife, Wendy Maltese; her grandchildren, Frank and his wife, Margaret Torina, Antonina and her husband, David Hudson, Nicolo Torina, Joseph Torina, Alex Maltese, Stella Maltese, Natalie and her husband, Carl Baus, Ricky Braun, Marco Maltese, Nicolo Maltese, Philip Hackney and wife Anna, and Jenna Maltese; three great granddaughters, Santina Hudson, Maya Ryan Braun-Cooper and Cara Josephine Baus; her sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Vincent Soriero; her siblings by marriage, Sue Mannino, Frances Mannino, Carol Mannino, Santina Palazzolo, Rose Maltese, Salvatore Maltese, Stella and her husband, Gianni Farina, Antoinette O’Connor, Josephine Leone, and Frankie Maltese; numerous extended family around the world; and many, many cherished friends.

Stella will lie in repose on Thursday, September 2, 2021 from 5:00-8:30 p.m. with a vigil service at 8:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli at St. Magdalen de Pazzi Church, 105 Mine Street, Flemington, NJ on Friday, September 3, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. and to which all are welcome. All are asked to meet directly at the church beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Friday morning. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Life Celebration Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

Following mass, Stella will be laid to rest with with her beloved husband, Nick, at St. Magdalen Mausoleum, North Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

Realizing that some may be unable to attend due to the pandemic, the Vigil Service on Thursday evening, and the Mass and Burial on Friday will be live-streamed. To watch any of these events, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker enabled. The vigil link will begin to stream Thursday at 8:15 p.m and the Mass link will begin on Friday at 10:15 a.m. (If you are having issues with clicking above, please follow this link: https://vimeo.com/event/1248281/b0a66f56f1),

It is politely requested that masks must be worn at all times on funeral home and church grounds, and that social distancing must be maintained. The family appreciates your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

You are encouraged to visit Stella’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

For those who wish, contributions in her honor may be made to Friends of Historic Flemington, P.O. Box 289, Flemington, NJ 08822 or online by clicking HERE.