Mary Theresa (Dondero) Cavagnaro, age 88 of Vineland, passed away peacefully and with grace after a long illness on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in Meadowview Nursing Residence, Williamstown. Mary was born in Vineland to the late Charles and Rose A. Dondero and was a lifelong Vineland resident. She attended Sacred Heart Grammar and High School, she then transferred and graduated from Vineland High School, Class of 1945. On September 6, 1947, Mary married the love of her life, William "Billy" Cavagnaro. She was employed as a telephone operator with NJ Bell Telephone for two periods in her life. In between, Mary was a full time wife and homemaker, raising her children and caring for her mother and later a wonderful mom-mom to her grandchildren. Mary will always be remembered for her pleasant smile and friendliness, her compassion and her love for her family was truly immense. She enjoyed cooking and will be especially remembered for her homemade ravioli and fabulous pies. Mary was a lifelong and active member of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Sacred Heart Church of Vineland. She worked as a volunteer for numerous activities with the Cumberland County American Cancer Society and was very active as a member with the Northwest Swim Club and the Blackwater Club. She would also help with the Miss Vineland Pageant and was always an active member of the unofficial Vineland "Golden Girls" with her late sister Catherine (Dondero) Langley and her cousin Adeline "Addie" (Dondero) Bruun and sister-in-law Jeannine (Letellier) Cavagnaro. Mary is survived by her son, Carl W. Cavagnaro and his wife Virginia "Ginny" (Detrick) and her daughters, Christine Cowperthwait and her husband Robert "Bob" and Denise Luciano and her husband Steven, all of Vineland. Mom-Mom is also survived by nine grandchildren, Danielle (Cavagnaro) Lacivita and her husband Michael of Vineland, Stephanie (Cowperthwait) Staffieri and her husband Michael of Upper Deerfield, William "Bill" Cavagnaro and his wife Jennifer "Jen" of Voorhees, Lori (Cowperthwait) O'Toole and her husband Matt of Vineland, Kevin Cavagnaro and his companion Natalie Gross of Vineland, Scott Cowperthwait and his wife Elizabeth of Abington, Pa., Alyssa Luciano, Alyson "Aly" Luciano and Christian Luciano, all of Vineland. Mary had nine great-grandchildren, Conor, Braden, Mason, Nolan, Natalie, Grant, Emitt, Jeffrey and Maggie. Mary was predeceased by her husband William "Billy" Cavagnaro in 1972. By her sister Catherine Langley, brother-in-law William "Bill" Langley, brother-in-law John B. Cavagnaro, sister-in-law Jeannine Cavagnaro, nephew Raymond Cavagnaro and her great-nephew Daniel "Danny" Langley. She was also predeceased by her Dondero cousins; Adeline "Addie" Bruun and her husband Benjamin, Francis "Bud" Dondero and his wife Elizabeth "Betty" and Elaine Compotaro and her husband Angelo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 12:00 pm on Friday, June 19th at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 1010 E. Landis Ave. Vineland. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland. Family and friends may gather on Friday from 10:00 - 12:00 pm at the CHURCH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary's memory to: Compassionate Care Hospice, 600 Highland Dr. Suite 624 Westampton, NJ 08060 or to Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, 1655 Magnolia Rd. Vineland, New Jersey 08361. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.wbfuneralhome.com Arrangements are in the care of Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, Vineland.