Maria Rose Santoro Ditton

February 9, 1938 - October 8,2026

Selbyville, DE, formerly of Warwick, NY

Maria Rose Santoro Ditton entered in to rest on October 8, 2026, at the age of eighty-eight. She was born on February 9, 1938, in Newburgh, NY, to Carmella and Salvatore Santoro. She married James Lee Ditton on April 12, 1958, who preceded her in death on November 2, 2013.

Maria attended High School at St. Mary’s in Newburgh, NY, and graduated from the Eastern School of Physicians Aides as a Medical Technologist in September of 1956. She worked at various institutions and then when she and Jim moved to Warwick, NY, she worked for Gerard Freisinger, MD, for more than thirty-five years. Maria was instrumental with Dr. Freisinger in bringing echocardiology and early forms of CPR training into St. Anthony’s Hospital in Warwick.

Maria is survived by her four children Dr. Cathleen Mattos of Milford, PA; Peter Ditton of Boise, ID; Dr. Regina Jensen and her husband Richard of Selbyville, DE; and Michael Ditton and his wife Lindsay of Millsboro, DE.

She had 11 grandchildren: Brian Mattos of Alamo, CA, Brandon Haraldsen and his wife Bryse of St. Robert, MO; Bryce Haraldsen of Delmar, DE; Camilla Ditton and her husband Adam Jensen of Moscow, ID; Destinee Ditton of Bellingham, WA: Amanda Ditton and Blake Ditton of Boise, ID; Katelyn Jensen and Conner Jensen of Selbyville, DE: Tristan Ditton and Owen Ditton of Millsboro, DE. Maria also lived to see the arrival of her first great grandchild Ainsley Maria Haraldsen (9/4/26) of St. Robert, MO.

She is also preceded in death by her only brother Boniface Santoro of St. George, UT. Her sister-in-law Sandra Santoro Lives in Utah and her nieces Valerie Zawinsky (husband Alex) and Lisa Santoro live in Oregon.

Maria is to be cremated and interred with her husband James in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Putnam Valley, NY, in the Spring of 2027.

St. Jude’s was one of Maria’s favorite charities. In honor of that, we ask that any donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Online Donations - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital