Maria Baldani

Maria Baldani, age 77, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the local hospital.  Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown.  Father Richard Fox will be the celebrant.  Music will be provided by the I.C. Funeral Choir accompanied by Helen Gollnick as organist.  The service will be live-streamed via Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Facebook Live.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Urn bearers will be: Brett Busskohl, Ryan Busskohl, Landon Carlson, and Bodie Croninger.

Maria was born on January 26, 1944, in Naples, Italy, to Annunziata Ricciardi. She was raised in the care of the Monastery off the island of Sardinia, Italy, before coming to the United States.

Maria’s devotion to her children and grandchildren was something she was proud of. Maria had a passion for cooking, and a love for sitting down and sharing a meal. That love of cooking was how she expressed how much you meant to her and how much she loved you. Nourishing and nurturing was the way she said “I’m caring for you, I’m providing for you.” It brought her joy when family and friends indulged in her homemade meals. She also enjoyed listening and teaching the word of God, going to the beach, shopping and watching “The Young and the Restless”. Her kindness and compassion will forever be remembered by those she touched.

Maria is survived by one son, Anthony “Tony” Croninger (fiancé, Ashley Hanson), of Watertown, SD; two daughters: Michele (Chad) Busskohl, of Atwater, MN, and Lisa (Salvatore) Esposito, of Watertown, SD; two brothers: Antonio (Enza) Inserra of Watertown, SD, and Egisto (Tina) Inserra of Naples, Italy; one sister, Ortensia (Roberto) Inserra of Rome, Italy; six grandchildren: Brett Busskohl, Ryan Busskohl, Bodie Croninger, Ana Remmel, Landon Carlson, and Nevaeh Gonzalez.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents, and her two husbands: Melvin Croninger, and Enrico Baldani.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel        www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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