- Date Of Birth: July 25, 1929
- Date Of Death: November 8, 2021
- State: New Jersey
Maria “Mary” Koustas, 92 of Whiting, NJ passed away Monday, November 8, 2021.
Born and raised in Newark, NJ, she lived in Kearny, NJ and Berkeley Twp., before moving to Whiting, NJ.
Mary was a PTA President at Washington School and a Preschool teacher for the YMCA in Kearny, NJ. while teaching multiple Sunday School classes.
She was an active member of the 1st Evangelical Free Church, Kearny; Bethany Evangelical Free Church and the Ocean County E-Free Church. In her youth she enjoyed driving the city children in her neighborhood to Harvey Cedars each summer to experience the shore for and church for the first time. Her legacy is that of a pioneer in the foster care system in NJ and was affectionately known as “Aunt Mary.”
She was preceded in heaven by her siblings, Frank “Jr” DeLizio, Gerald “Crusher” DeLizio and Carmella “Millie” Palmieri.
Mary is survived by her husband of 65 years, Martin Koustas, her children Richard Koustas of Goodyear, AZ, Ronald Koustas of Clifton, NJ and Michilina Schoen of Mesa, AZ and sister Ruth (DeLizio) Cushman, 2 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and 24 foster children.
