Maria Harper, born Maria Ann Ferrari, left us to be with her Lord and Savior on
Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the age of 83. Maria was born on December 4, 1940 in New
York, NY to Robert and Eugenia Ferrari. As a young girl, she attended Our Savior’s School and
then Walton High School, both in Bronx, NY. In 1963 she moved to Clifton, NJ with her
husband and two daughters. In 1969 she gave birth to her son, before relocating to Jasper, FL in
1980. Maria spent much of her time in Jasper working for the Madison Correctional Institution.
Then after retiring, in 2015 she moved to Lake City, FL where she volunteered at The Hospice
Attic.
Maria loved her family and is survived by her daughters Ann Marie Zaremba and Debbie
Saft and her son in law Mark Zaremba and her daughter in law Josephine Restuccia. She is also
survived by her six grandchildren Mark Zaremba and his wife Ashley, Nicole Saft, Danielle
Rebisz and her husband Eric, Michael Saft and his wife Ariane, and Hannah and Joshua
Restuccia. She was also blessed with nine great grandchildren. Maria was preceded in death by
her son Christopher who passed away in 2009 from esophageal cancer.
Since living in Lake City, Maria has been a faithful member of The First Presbyterian
Church of Lake City. Maria lived a full and vibrant life, right until the end, when she lost her
battle with lung cancer. With friends she loved to attend dances, bowl, and play cards, Bunco and
Bingo. In her spare time she enjoyed making jigsaw puzzles, completing word puzzles, reading
and cooking.
There will be a viewing, a memorial service, and a reception to follow at The First
Presbyterian Church of Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 2:00 PM. A Memorial Service will follow at 4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers her family is asking for donations to The First Presbyterian Church of Lake City, located at 697 SW
Baya Dr, Lake City, FL 32025. Maria’s lively spirit and bright smile will be greatly missed.
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