In the early morning hours of March 10, 2016, our beloved Maria Pickett went home to be with the Lord after a courageous and inspirational battle against cancer.
Maria could not wait to begin her journey into this world and on July 1, 1978 she was born Maria Louisa Padilla in an ambulance en route to the hospital in Perth Amboy, N.J., to her proud dad Ismael Padilla and her beautiful mom Judith Cummings Sorenson, who preceded her in death in 2011 and with whom she is now happily reunited in heaven.
Maria grew up in Port Monmouth, NJ where she graduated from Middletown North High School in 1996.
Always an animal lover, it was here where she raised some "interesting" pets, such as a tarantula, a hedgehog and a goat she used to walk along the beach.
Though she loved the fast-paced Jersey lifestyle, in the early 2000s Maria chose to make Canton her new home so she could be nearer to family - especially her mom with whom she shared a close bond.
She attended Lackawanna Community College in Towanda, majoring in Early Childhood Education and began her career at Stepping Stones Childcare in Canton where she impacted the lives of so many children and their families for over a decade. Maria was a member of New Life Church in Canton and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ carried her throughout her fight.
Maria could not wait to begin her journey into this world and on July 1, 1978 she was born Maria Louisa Padilla in an ambulance en route to the hospital in Perth Amboy, N.J., to her proud dad Ismael Padilla and her beautiful mom Judith Cummings Sorenson, who preceded her in death in 2011 and with whom she is now happily reunited in heaven.
Maria grew up in Port Monmouth, NJ where she graduated from Middletown North High School in 1996.
Always an animal lover, it was here where she raised some "interesting" pets, such as a tarantula, a hedgehog and a goat she used to walk along the beach.
Though she loved the fast-paced Jersey lifestyle, in the early 2000s Maria chose to make Canton her new home so she could be nearer to family - especially her mom with whom she shared a close bond.
She attended Lackawanna Community College in Towanda, majoring in Early Childhood Education and began her career at Stepping Stones Childcare in Canton where she impacted the lives of so many children and their families for over a decade. Maria was a member of New Life Church in Canton and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ carried her throughout her fight.
It was at Lackawanna College where Maria met the love of her life Seth Pickett in 2010 and they married on Aug. 15, 2015. In addition to her loving husband, Maria is survived by her two daughters, Jada Rose Confer (10) and Jacey Rae Pickett (2). She is also survived by her brothers, Raymond (Roseanne) Sorenson, Greer, SC, David Sorenson and her sister, Julia Margarita Padilla Busteed both of Charlotte, NC; nephews, Randy, David, Christopher, Aeron, Jason and Logan; nieces, Sara and Tia; great-nieces, Dannicka and Audrey; dear cousins, Rosanna (Glen), Kylie and Declan Licari of Middletown, NJ; mothers-in-law, Edie Pickett, Port Charlotte, FL and Caroline Pickett Rubendall, Towanda; sister-in-law, Jennifer (Mark) Sheeley, and nieces and nephews of Ulster; extended church friends, very special friends, Nicolee and Bob Coles, Aimee Largent, Tia Buss, Cassi Cole-Brown, Cynthia Mitstifer, Felicia Elizabeth, Lori Colon, Kate Edmond and Cindy Kennedy; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
A memorial service will be held in honor and remembrance of Maria's life at 11 am on March 26, at New Life Church, 299 McMurray Rd., Canton, PA 17724. Donations to the family can be sent by cash, PayPal, or preferably through Maria's GoFundMe page online.
The Morse & Kleese Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
morseandkleesefuneralhome.com
A memorial service will be held in honor and remembrance of Maria's life at 11 am on March 26, at New Life Church, 299 McMurray Rd., Canton, PA 17724. Donations to the family can be sent by cash, PayPal, or preferably through Maria's GoFundMe page online.
The Morse & Kleese Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
morseandkleesefuneralhome.com
