Maria D’Aquilla Gonda

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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May 25, 1924 – Sept. 28, 2014

WOODVILLE — A mass service for Maria D’Aquilla Gonda, 90, of Woodville, who died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, after a long battle with breast cancer, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Woodville.

Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of Newman Funeral Home in Centreville.

Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Newman Funeral Home in Woodville, with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.

Mrs. Gonda was born May 25, 1924, in Summit, the daughter of Sam and Adelina D’Aquilla. She lived most of her childhood life at Highpoint in western Wilkinson County.

Known to all as Ms. Nuffie, she was best known for being the manager of the Woodville swimming pool from the late 50s through the early 70s. She was also well known as an avid tennis player and gardener.

Ms. Nuffie was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, George Gonda; an infant daughter, Melanie; four brothers, Joseph, Slyvester, Milton and Carl D’Aquilla; and one sister, Katherine Plitt.

Survivors include two sons, Greg Gonda and wife, Francis, of Memphis, Tenn., and Tim Gonda and wife, Robin, of Baton Rouge; three grandchildren, Michael, E.J., and Todd Gonda; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Alta Stutzman of St. Francisville, La.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the local Food Bank PBM Ministries, Attn: Enloe, P.O. Box 874, Woodville, MS 39669.