Maria was born in Porto D’ Ascoli, Italy and moved to the United States in the early 1960’s.  She settled in Chicago Heights, where she met her husband Joe.  They have two sons and one daughter.  Eventually they moved the family to South Holland.  With the kids grown and out of the house they moved to Schererville, IN where they reside now.  Maria and Joe have 5 grandsons, 2 step-grandsons and 1 step-granddaughter.  Maria is Dr. Joe’s, wife’s Aunt.  Actually Aunt Maria and Uncle Joe are the ones, who introduced Dr. Joe to his wife, Roberta, their niece.