Obituary of Mariann Ann (DeFazio) Sterling

Mariann Ann (DeFazio) Sterling was granted her angel wings on Sept. 10, 2021, after a short illness. She was 82, and as full of life at the end as she was at the beginning.

 

Mariann was born on May 1, 1939, in Trenton, NJ, the youngest daughter of William and Julia DeFazio. She graduated from Morrisville High School, PA, where she met the love of her life, Donald C. Sterling. Together they relocated to many places, including Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Florida, all while raising three loving children before Don passed too early at age 40.

 

Artistic Expression could have been Mariann’s middle name. She touched so many lives through her artwork, whether it be through her writing, painting, sculpture, or dramatic reading performances. Mariann may have been grounded here on earth, but her heart and mind soared to the heavens in search of new ways to express herself. Mariann was the very personification of a free spirit. Among her many experiences, Mariann studied at the New England School of Art and Design, exhibited her artwork in various places, and was a former columnist for the Ocala Star-Banner under the pseudonym Gaby Michaels. And after many years in the making, she had just completed the final edits to her book on her fight to save Don from cancer.

 

Known for her exacting standards for a cup of coffee, Mariann was a night owl, always up for a late-night chat or a game of Gin Rummy. Her strength and depth of personality gave way to a broad capacity to experience life: from a happy sense of humor, ever ready for a good Henny Youngman joke or just laughing hysterically with her children, to contemplative study and prayer, endlessly in search of profound answers to keep faith through adversity. Her life’s journey was an inspiration to family and friends.

 

Mariann leaves behind her son Donald G. Sterling and his wife Heather, son Douglas M. Sterling and his wife Stephanie, daughter Daphne G. Smith and her husband Keith; her sister, Kathryn Bickford; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

 

A memorial mass for Mariann will be held at 8:30 am on Monday, October 18 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala. To virtually attend the service, please follow this link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/6280236541 . In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memoriam to The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, https://stpaulcenter.com/donate/

The St. Paul Center, 1468 Parkview Circle, Steubenville, Ohio 43952

Or EWTN, https://sd.ewtn.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mariann (DeFazio) Sterling, please visit Tribute Store