Maria Irene (Severino) Melanson Schiavi , 74, of Sherborn passed away peacefully on August 12, 2018 at the Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Born in Sicily, Italy, the daughter of the late Vincent and Anna (Maragliano) Severino, she moved to the United States at the age of 3 and was raised in Waltham, Ma. Maria graduated from Waltham High School in 1962 and worked as a purchasing manager for Framingham Union/Metrowest Medical Center in Framingham for 32 years. In her free time she enjoyed cooking, working in her vegetable garden and most of all spending time with her family.

Maria is survived by her husband of eight years; Robert Schiavi of Sherborn; two children; Deborah Melanson of Natick, and David Melanson and his wife Natalie of Needham, three stepsons; Matt Schiavi of Locke, NY; Phillip Cunningham and his wife Diane of Ashland; and Michael Cunningham of FL; two sisters; Gina DeToma and her late husband Nick of Waltham; and Joanne Hofmann Sexeny and her husband John of Winchester; thirteen grandchildren; Jake and Luke Melanson, Alex, Violet, Jack, Lucas, and Lyssa Schiavi, and Nancy, Peter, Andrew, Sean, Tegan, and Erick Cunningham, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Maria was predeceased by her first husband Roger D Melanson who died in 1990.

A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday Aug. 16th at 10:00am in St. Theresa's Parish, 35 South Main St. Sherborn, MA with urn burial to follow in St. Tarcisius Cemetery in Framingham. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Metrowest Cancer Care Center, 99 Lincoln St. Framingham, MA 01702