Maria Salustina Adrian Suarez passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2025. She had just celebrated her 87th birthday, surrounded by loving family and dear friends.

Born in La Vega, Dominican Republic, Maria grew up with 7 brothers and sisters. She joined the convent, but left before taking her final vows to work and help her family. She moved to Canada and in the early 1970s, to Atlanta, GA where her friend Nidia Holguin was working.

It was here that Maria met the de Give family, beginning a lifelong friendship. She was an integral part of the family, caring for Henry and Elena until their deaths in 2001 and 2022. She will be buried alongside them in Westview Cemetery.

In the early 1980s, Maria started a daycare out of the house on Eppington Drive that would be a defining aspect of her life. Through her many years of care, she formed deep bonds with countless families and changed the lives of many children. Her tough discipline paired with unconditional love earned her the adoration of many. Former kids from her daycare recall stories of church nativity pageants, easter celebrations, and children’s talent shows, always raising money to donate to Catholic Relief Services Save the Children fund.

Maria is remembered as a fabulous cook (never following a recipe), a devout Catholic, and a world traveler, visiting Russia, Italy (awed by the Vatican), several trips to the Holy Land and her lifetime desire to visit and pray at the Blessed Virgin Mary’s home in Turkey.

She is survived by her brother Andres and many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her adopted de Give family and all of her former daycare attendees and their families. Maria’s life lessons, her joy and her memory will live on in all those who loved her and were impacted by her.

A funeral mass will be held on February 7th at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with internment of her ashes to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Maria’s name to St Vincent de Paul Chapter at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (hsccatl.com) or a children’s charity of your choice.

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