Obituary of Maria C McDermott
Maria Clotilde McDermott, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. She was born on May 27, 1935, in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, to the late Eugenio and Rita Maysonet.
Maria was a woman of deep faith and lifelong service to others. She attended Marymount College in Salina, Kansas in1952 at age 16 and she graduated summa cum laude in 3 years in 1955. Following her graduation, she moved to New York City, where she began a career devoted to helping others, working as a social worker for Catholic Charities in 1956.
On April 11, 1959, Maria married her beloved husband, Brian McDermott. Together, they raised a loving family and were blessed with three children: Ian, Sean, and Michele. In the summer of 1971, the family settled in South Plainfield, New Jersey, where Maria became a devoted member of the community.
Maria continued her commitment to service through her work in education, teaching remedial reading in the South Plainfield public school system for three years. She later returned to social work, serving Middlesex County as a full-time social worker with the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), where she was responsible for child placement and advocating for children in foster care. Her dedication and excellence were recognized when she was named Foster Care Specialist of the Year in both 1992 and 1993, the first of which was presented by then Governor Florio.
Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. Maria’s first passion was the Church, where she was a devoted parishioner and served faithfully as a Minister of the Holy Eucharist. She found deep meaning in prayer and was known to pray regularly for her friends and family.
In her personal life, Maria found joy in reading, shopping at the mall, running, visiting New York City, watching New York Yankees games, and going dancing with her husband. Above all, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren. Maria was known for her loving, patient, and compassionate nature. She took time with people, listened with care, and offered thoughtful advice to those who sought her guidance.
Maria is survived by her sister, Edna Maysonet Bijloos; her children, Ian B. McDermott, Sean McDermott and his wife Janet, and Michele Kenny and her husband Garry; and her beloved grandchildren, Dylan McDermott and his wife Bianca, Liam McDermott and his wife Victoria, Aidan McDermott and his wife Abigail, Megan McDermott, and Ethan Kenny.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects during a visitation at South Plainfield Funeral Home, 2456 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 4pm to 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 10am at Sacred Heart Church, 149 South Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ. Interment will follow at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue, Valhalla, NY.