Marie P. Fiss

Marie Passalacqua Fiss (7/24/34-10/4/21) 

Marie Passalacqua Fiss died peacefully at home at the age of 87 under the care of her loving family. Marie lived a long and happy life as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend. 

Marie was born in Philadelphia, the youngest of ten children born to Sicilian immigrants, Pasquale and Giuseppe Passalacqua. Always studious, Marie earned a $400 per year full scholarship to Temple University where she was awarded the Owl Award at Recognition Day Convocation for achieving the highest average among Temple’s undergraduate women students, maintaining a G.P.A. of 3.96. Upon graduating in 1956, she worked as an elementary school teacher at G. W. Childs School and later at Vare Middle School, retiring from teaching in 1998.

In 1959, Marie married Raymond Fiss. Ray was the proprietor of a hair salon in South

Philadelphia for many years. As the birth of their first child drew near in 1968, Marie left teaching to become a full-time mom to Robert and David. Tragedy struck in 1985 with the death of her beloved Ray. Marie’s unshakeable faith and devotion to the Catholic Church helped her through the tough times. 

Marie loved spending time in the kitchen cooking for her family, especially her five grandchildren, Andrew, Kevin, Caroline, Liv, and Luke. Despite never being a driver, our “Queen of the 17” managed to get all over South Philly on the Number 17 bus to make sure she always had a kitchen fully stocked with all their favorite foods. Marie was known for her amazing Italian cooking: chicken cutlets, braciole, ricotta pie, pasta cheech, manicotti and her unforgettable meatballs. And then there was chicken soup, chocolate chip coffee cake, pizzelles, fried shrimp, calamari; the list goes on and on. 

When Marie was not cooking, she was watching the Phillies and the Eagles, working the weekly crossword, reading newspapers and magazines, or talking on the phone with family and friends. Affectionately known as “Marie Call-Back”, it was inevitable that when you hung up the phone with Marie, it would ring back within minutes and you’d hear her say, “Just one more thing I forgot to tell you.” She was meticulous in everything, delighted in all her grandchildren did, and loved to laugh. She will be remembered for her caring spirit and her devotion to those she loved most. 

Marie is predeceased by her husband, Raymond Fiss; parents Pasquale and Giuseppe Passalacqua; siblings Frank (Sylvia) Passal, Jasper (Doris) Passalacqua, Louis (Angela) Passalacqua, Sara (George) DeMarco, Vittina (Dominic) Pisciella, Jennie (John) D’Ottaviano, Joseph Passalacqua, and Dolores (Candelore) Petrone. 

Marie is survived by her children Robert (Sandi) Fiss and David (Jennifer) Fiss; grandchildren, Andrew Fiss, Kevin Fiss, Caroline Fiss, Liv Fiss, and Luke Fiss; brother William Passalacqua; sisters-in-law Mikki Passalacqua and Jane Chonody; and many nieces and nephews. 

Friends and family are welcome to attend her viewing Friday from 9:30am to 10:30am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church 1845 Hartranft St. St. Philadelphia, Pa 19145.  Her Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30am.  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, PA.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Philabundance 3616 S. Galloway St. Philadelphia, Pa 19148. https://www.philabundance.org/donate/

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