Maria Huffer

Maria Cestone Huffer, beloved mother, aunt, great aunt and friend passed away in her home, with her “favorite people” by her side, on Sunday, January 2, 2022. She is survived by her cherished son, William John Huffer (Debby), her loving and devoted niece Sandra Motz-Horseman (Jim) and countless others, whom she adored.  She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Huffer; her parents Anthony and Jane (McCann) Cestone; sister Patricia Motz and brother John Cestone.

Maria was born on July 9, 1935 in Washington, DC.  She was raised in Brentwood, MD and attended grade school at St. James Catholic School, graduating in 1949.  From there she spent four years at St. Patrick’s Academy, in Washington DC, where she cultivated many lifelong friendships.  In June of 1954, she went to work for Catholic University of America.  Where she worked in the office of Student Accounts, as an enrollment specialist for 59 years.  At CUA she gained even more enduring friendships and enjoyed being able to directly help the students and their parents.  However, her most exciting memories of this time was when she had the privilege of being on campus for the visit of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in October of 1979.

She was very proud of her Italian/Scottish heritage.  One of her most cherished memories was of the trip that she took to Calitri, Italy, with her father in 1957 to visit his family.  Her favorite past times were enjoying the Chesapeake Bay from a bench on the North Beach boardwalk; taking in the view of the Patuxent River from her Uncle’s home in Croom or just sitting on her front porch in College Park, where she lived happily for over 50 years.

Maria never meant a stranger and would happily to talk to anyone and everyone.  She loved her family and her close friends deeply.  She lived to spend time with them and especially looked forward to the holidays.  But you had better not alter the menu, because tradition meant everything.  Her special power was remembering EVERYONE’S birthday, anniversary, or other special day and she took great delight in marking every holiday from Valentine’s Day to Christmas, with a card that had a little cash or some scratch off tickets tucked inside!  So in her memory, make someone’s day and send a card or call someone, just to let them know that they are in your thoughts.

The funeral service and visitation will be held at St. James Catholic Church, 3628 Rhode Island Ave., Mount Rainier, MD on Thursday, January 13, 2022.  Visitation will be from 10am to 11am with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11 am.  Interment following at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Branchville Fire Department (4905 Branchville Rd, College Park, MD 20740)