The Maria Rita Aristone Story

A 19-year-old girl from South Philly walked into my office over 40 years ago to interview for a secretary position to assist my brother Michael and me with our new commercial real estate company, DePetris Realty. Her name was Maria Rita Aristone.

The truth of the interview was that Maria would not exit the interview until she was hired. Mike and I confirmed that we needed to hire this assertive young woman on the spot.

A few years later Maria, with her tenacious personality, expanded her role to become a licensed sales agent and became a rising star in the commercial real estate field.

She went on to become president of Legend Properties and been recognized as a leader in a field dominated by men.

In 2016 Maria was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the deadliest of all brain cancers, which normally claims the patient’s life in 18 months. Maria had three successful brain operations over the next several years. Her will to live is just incredible.

It has been slightly over two years since Maria’s fateful fourth brain operation, during which she suffered a devastating stroke that paralyzed the left side of her body. Maria requires 24-hour care in doing all the things we take for granted such as dressing, eating, bathing or even moving from one spot to the next.

Maria is a living miracle as she has been battling this terrible disease for over 7 years…….7 Years! Maria is taking a light dose of Chemo once a month to keep her tumor from growing. Maria’s faith in God to maintain her life, rather than just her medications, is truly inspirational.

In the first year at the rehab center, Maria was one tough cookie as she was in and out of the hospital nine times, mainly from aspiration problems while eating and drinking. She worked incredibly hard with her dietary therapist and now enjoys food and beverages at every meal without difficulty. Additional good news is that Maria’s doctors have identified medications that have relieved her of constant pain in her left arm and leg and a trigeminal neuralgia nerve disorder that had plagued her for some time.

Currently, Maria is residing at the Dwellside Rehab Center in Cherry Hill, NJ in a private room, the walls covered with many posters made for her of her family and friends that bring her great comfort and joy. She loves watching her favorite TV show on The Food Network and engaging in trivia, of which she is an expert, and bingo; both of which are played in the community room. She is, without a doubt, the best dressed woman at Dwellside with a killer wardrobe!

I do my best to get Maria out of the rehab center to see life “on the outside”. This includes weekend trips to her home in Voorhees, NJ where she spends time with her brother, Louis, and the Love of Her Life “Chico,” her beloved Chihuahua.

One of the better moves I orchestrated was the trading in of Maria’s SUV for a handicap van where, with her professional driver (me), Maria gets an opportunity to get out of her rehab residence on meaningful adventures. In addition to the never-ending quest for the “Perfect Pizza” those adventures have taken Maria to the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Rehoboth, DE, The Poconos, and even St. Michaels, Maryland. (See collage of her pictures attached)
She loves getting phone calls as well, but she is especially fond of getting visitors. She looks forward to visits from her friends or a short outing for a bite to eat. Please allow me to assist in setting up a visit.

Maria Rita Aristone was dealt a tough card, but she also knows that God could have taken her life to be with her parents in heaven. Maria appreciates the short saying “Life is good!” and believes that she is here on Earth living God’s will.

She asks that you keep her in your prayers and appreciates any support that you can give to her charity Hope, Help, Live. God bless you all.

Sincerely,
Jim DePetris

Family and friends of Marie Aristone are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live in Marie’s honor to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

We chose to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the GIVE button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

Thank you for your support!