Maria Violet Pettit - Obituary

aria Violet Pettit “Sissy” of Deale passed away peacefully on July 19, 2026 after a courageous journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 91 years old. Maria was born in Annapolis, MD on November 24, 1934 to Salvador and Violet Hiponia. She attended McKinley Technology High School and worked for Giant Food for 20 years. Maria was a parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. She loved her cats, her family, and the beach. She also loved sitting down at the masons beach pier, especially in the winter watching the swans. Along with her parents, Maria was predeceased by her husband of 71 years Robert L. Pettit; and two sisters, Delores Sheckells and Anita Pryor. She is survived by her children, Robert Pettit Jr. of Deale, MD, Joe (Darlene) Pettit of Victoria, VA, Eric (Kim) Pettit of Tracys Landing, MD, Tina (Mark) Gates of Deale, MD, Wendy (Bobby) Oglivie of Harwood, MD, and Claudine (Roger) Shirkey of Churchton, MD; two siblings, Joe (Debbie) Hiponia and Verna (Bill) Radcliffe; 10 grandchildren, Jason, Bobby, Michael, Jesse, Roger, Andrea, Alicia, Danielle, Carrie, and Ashley; 29 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Maria’s life on Friday, July 31 from 10 AM until her funeral service begins at 11 AM at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. She will be interred at a later date at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.