MaryAnn Ross

The Life of MaryAnn Lombardo Ross (Noni) Born on Sunday, January 29th, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York to two immigrant parents James Vincenzo Lombardo of Partanna just outside the Sicilian capital of Palermo, Italy and Rose Pearlstein of Kodyma, USSR in current-day Ukraine had two beautiful children Philip Lombnardo and our Noni, MaryAnn. She She spent her entire childhood and teenage years living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with many aunts, uncles and cousins. The Jewish side of her family lived closer to her while her Italian relatives lived still nearby in Ridgewood on the border of Brooklyn and Queens. MaryAnn attended Williamsburg Vocational High School, which became Eli Whitney High School in 1956. Her banking career started in high school but was broken up by leaving for the military. She enlisted in the US Army at age 18 in 1957. Soon after her Military Service she met Gordon William Ross - they wasted no time - they soon got married & had 7 children in 8 years - 1960 thru 1968. She mentioned many times that she wanted more children - like 11 or 12 - that’s Noni!! She eventually returned to banking with Manny Hanny in NYC which was later bought out by Chemical Bank. She also worked in downtown Manhattan at 55 Water Street for 15+years as a check clearing supervisor. Many years later around 1996 she moved to Delaware with Chemical Bank’s HQ & made Delaware her new home. She eventually retired from JPMorgan-Chase who merged with Chemical Bank. She did work part-time at University of Delaware where she eventually met Dan Pragg who also worked at UD. That was the last job. Growing up in MaryAnn’s household as her middle child was quite the adventure-we were broke & crazy but somehow proud of it!!! Noni never really taught us to be ashamed of anything. Our youngest sister Stacy was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome but we were instructed to not give her any special treatment, “she’s one of our pack & she’ll have chores, get punished & will do her homework just like the rest of you…”. Hence Stacy never saw herself as handicapped. That’s who Noni was. Stacy went on to give Noni her first grandchild William and we were absolutely blessed to enjoy her until she passed in August of 2021 surviving Covid-19 while on Stage 4 Cancer Treatment - undeniably Noni’s daughter. Noni also survived another one of her children - her son Ronny who passed in 1993 at 32 years of HIV/AIDS. He was the leader of the pack as a teenager, working & helping provide for our family at a very young age. Ronny joined the US Army at 17 & didn’t return to NYC from until his late 20’s. Noni also outlived both her husband Don Ross (father of all 7 kids) & longtime companion John Lombardi. She leaves behind the favorite man in her life - “Her Knight in Shining Armor” Daniel Pragg. Our family is so glad for Dan’s presence in Noni’s life. Noni was 19 years older than Dan - a cougar!! She also survived all 3 of her best friends: Dotty Granberg, Ilene Imperrota, & Fay Gamble I recall growing up in the NYC projects as a young kid on Staten Island. My parents split up when I was 9 in 1973 & from that day forward Noni took over on what would become an adventure…..camping, crabbing, fishing, trips to the pools & beaches as well as a really long trip to Georgia just to see President Jimmy Carter’s Peanut Farm eat in a dinner & come back - we didn’t have $ for a hotel. She had no problem with throwing 7, 8 or 9 kids in her car & heading to a pool, the beach or a park When we were young. Mom worked briefly for NYC Parks department at Tompkinsville Pool in the summer so that she could get us all in for free & keep an eye on us. She also worked at Head Start where several of us attended pre-K & Kindergarten. Another memorable day at Sandy Hook beach on the New Jersey shore Noni got wiped out by an unexpected wave & lost her wallet & glasses. She somehow managed to get us back home blind & broke - We directed her while she drove us home without her glasses & she schmoozed the officer over at the toll booth to let us go. That’s my Momma. She loved to sing to us on long drives in the car - she played the same few 8 track cassettes over & over until we knew all the words…..Rat Pack & Motown She also taught us all a bunch of songs from her Army days which we all know by heart. She loved western movies, country music & Native American dolls. 2 of her favorite TV shows were Columbo & Murder She Wrote….. I did notice the tough-as-nails mom that I experienced became a really loving grandmother & truly began to show compassion & love on a level she hadn’t tapped into as a single mother. The grand kids touched her in a way that changed her. She considered the grandchildren & great grandchildren the biggest blessings of her life……I think every one of her kids & grandchildren show signs of toughness & wit which undoubtedly come from her DNA. Noni is preceded in death by her parents James V. Lombardo and Rose Lombardo; her son, Ronald Philip Ross 1961-1993 (32 years old); and her daughter Stacy Dawn Ross 1967-2021 (53 years old). She is survived by her children Leonard Maxwell Ross, Jerri Lynn Ross Lewis, Marc David Ross, Marie Elaina Ross Palermo, Christopher Perry Ross; her 9 cherished grandchildren William Vincent Ross (Stacy), Peter Anthony Diemer (Marie), Stephino Ross (Lenny), Ronny Ross (Lenny), Kevin Francis Ross (Jerri), Trevour Maxwell Ross (Marc), Alexa Lynn Parker (Jerri), Nicholas Vincent Palermo (Marie), Ethan Hunter Ross (Marc), and Brianna Rose Palermo (Marie); noni adored her 4 great-grandchildren Angelina Ross (William), Carter Julius Diemer (Peter Anthony), Harper Jade Diemer (Peter Anthony), and Jaxon James Diemer (Peter Anthony). A rebel from the start - her 1st cousin Marie Dasnoit shared a story with me that explains a whole lot. Her father Nick Lombardo (her dad’s brother) & family came to visit MaryAnn’s family one fine day & knocked on the door - low behold the door opens & it’s MaryAnn who was 3 years old, standing there in ALL her glory, inviting the family in…. That’s my Momma!!! Your Noni!!! Our beloved!!! May God Keep you in Eternal Peace - if anyone I know deserves it - it’s you Noni - Go fly with the angels & we will certainly meet again ….. The family invites you to join them in celebrating MaryAnn’s life Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, Delaware, 19702. A public visitation will begin 3:00-4:30 PM, followed by a service at 4:30 PM. For directions or to send an online condolence, please visit www.stranofeeley.com.

MaryAnn Ross

January 29, 1939 - August 16, 2025

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