Mary Rosanne Cristanetti

Mary Rosanne (Peiffer) Cristanetti, age 72, of Wilmington, Delaware, formerly of Fostoria and Toledo, Ohio, and Padova, Italy, died suddenly at home on August 30, 2017. She was born, also at home, in New Riegel, Ohio, to Eugene and Rosemary (Christophory) Peiffer.

Rosanne graduated from St. Wendelin High School in Fostoria, OH, Class of 1963. She enrolled at Mary Manse College in Toledo, OH immediately after high school and in her junior year was awarded the opportunity to go to Geneva where she received a Certificate of French Language and Culture in 1966. She returned to Mary Manse College and received her Bachelors of Art, Education/ Social Studies degree in 1967. In 1973, she received her Masters of Education from the University of Toledo in Toledo, OH.

Rosanne was a lifelong educator. Her career was dedicated to encouraging all her students’ achievements – whether they be the countless middle schoolers she taught over the years in both Ohio and Delaware, or the US service members continuing their education during their deployment in Italy, where Rosanne achieved the position of Director of Education for the Southern European Command.

Most recently, she was retired from the Brandywine School District in DE after more than 25 years at Harlan Elementary and Springer Middle School, but she continued to mentor children as an academic and reading tutor at Mt Pleasant Elementary.

Survived by her 3 daughters: Raffaella Cristanetti (Jason Walker) of DE; Simona Cristanetti (Matteo Randi) of VA; and Micaela Cristanetti of DE; 6 grandchildren to whom she was very close, and often hosted for “wild” sleepover parties Alessio, Daniela, Valentina, Eva, Camilla, and Luisa; her ex-husband Marco Cristanetti of DE; her 6 brothers: Reverend James Peiffer of OH; John Peiffer (Jenny) of OH; Norman Peiffer (Connie) of OH; Edward Peiffer (Kristine) of AZ; Richard Peiffer (Marilyn; OH); Gregory Peiffer (Linda; OH); 9 nieces & nephews: Kristine, Ryan, Christopher, Meredith, Annie, AJ, Tony, Nick, and Alex and their families.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing in her memory to the Delaware Nature Society, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, or the Brandywine River Museum.