Maria "Cristina" Pugliese, 78, of Edison, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Complete Care at Woodlands in Plainfield, NJ.

She was born on August 8, 1947, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and immigrated to the United States in 1975. She had resided in Edison for the past 39 years.

She was a former communicant of Our Lady of Peace RC Church in Fords.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Michele, who died in 2008, and by her parents, Enrique and Ana Della Longa.

She leaves behind her two beloved sons, Alex Pugliese and his wife Giovanna of Edison, and Andy Pugliese and his wife Patricia, also of Edison. She was a proud grandmother of seven grandchildren: Michele, Alessandro, Anthony, Michael, Massimo, Giuliana, and Valentina. She is also survived by her beloved sister, Beatriz Albino, and her husband, Hector; extended family, including her brother-in-law, Agostino Pugliese and his wife Patricia; and her sisters-in-law, Rosa Pugliese and Romana Dotro, who will miss her dearly.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Flynn and Son / Mitruska Funeral Home, 23 Ford Ave., Fords, NJ 08863.

Funeral services will begin on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Flynn and Son / Mitruska Funeral Home, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Liturgy at Our Lady of Peace RC Church in Fords. A private cremation will follow.

Her cremated remains will be laid to rest at the Woodbridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105
stjude.org