Maltese will be laid to rest Thursday at St. John Neumann Cemetery
The ovens will still fire and the doors will still open, but something unmistakable is missing in Lansdale.
Margaret P. Maltese — the longtime face, voice, and heartbeat of Nino’s Pizza — has died at 62, leaving behind not just a family business, but a community that felt like family to her. News of her passing Friday spread quickly, followed by a wave of grief, memories, and tributes that poured in by the hundreds from customers, friends, and local leaders who knew her simply as “Margaret.”
“It is with the deepest heartache that we share the passing of our beloved Margaret,” the business posted on social media Saturday night, thanking the community for its support as she battled health issues in recent weeks. “Margaret loved her Nino’s family beyond words.”
For many, Nino’s Pizza was never just a stop for a slice. It was a place where Margaret asked about your kids, remembered your order, and made you feel like you belonged the moment you walked through the door.
“She made me feel like family as soon as I walked in,” one customer wrote. Another said simply: “I feel like I just lost my Nona all over again.”
"I’ll always remember how we got close and became such good friends. It started with the little things—stopping by just to say hello, sharing a few words, and slowly turning those moments into something really special. Those simple visits meant so much to me, and I’ll always be grateful for the bond we built," wrote Phoebe Benner. "I’ll never forget seeing you working so hard at Nino’s Pizza. You put your heart into everything you did, and it showed in the way you treated people and carried yourself. Every time I stopped in and saw you, it made my day better. Those memories are something I’ll hold onto forever."
That sense of connection was not accidental. It was inherited, nurtured, and fiercely protected.
Margaret was the daughter of Nino and Josephine Maltese, the founders of Nino’s Pizza — a Lansdale institution that dates back to 1966 and is widely believed to have been the borough’s first pizza shop. After her parents’ deaths in recent years, she carried the torch forward, preserving not just recipes, but a philosophy: treat everyone who walks in like they matter.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in a family steeped in hard work and tradition, Margaret spent more than four decades behind the counter. Even in her final days, her words reflected that same devotion.
The pizza shop celebrated 60 years in business in August 2023.
“I have given over 45 years,” she wrote in a March 17 message to customers, announcing she could no longer work due to illness. “I love you guys so very much… it’s not goodbye, but see you later.”
Her absence leaves a void that stretches far beyond the shop’s walls.
Local officials, business owners, and longtime patrons shared tributes recalling her warmth, humor, and unmistakable presence.
Mayor Rachael Bollens called her “my Italian mom,” while others remembered her as a “shining light” and a “Lansdale gem.” State Rep. Steve Malagari described her as “an amazing woman and business owner.”
"Margaret was a shining light in our community. May she rest in peace with her wonderful family members who have gone before her. Every time I came in she asked about my children and my work. A true blessing," wrote Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
"When you told me this today, my heart shattered. Her love and her crazy, funny, awesome spirit will be with us always. I will miss her beyond words. Sending all my love and prayers for comfort, strength, and healing to the Maltese Family," write Lori Dudley, of Lori Dudley Wellness.
"I still don't have the words. I thought you were gonna kick its ass like you did everything else. I will miss you forever. My heart is so hurt. I will miss my Italian mom," wrote Mayor Rachael Bollens. "There are no words for this. Heaven gained a queen they weren't ready for."
Rep. Steve Malagari wrote that Margaret was an amazing woman and business owner.
"Condolences to the whole Nino’s family and to her immediate family and friends. May her memory be eternal," Malagari wrote.
Social media influencer, and Lansdale Catholic alum, The Godfather of Meat, wrote that he was sorry for her loss.
"She was the best! You are all in my prayers," he wrote.
Customers spoke of decades-long relationships — watching their children grow up in the shop, bringing aging parents for meals, or simply stopping in for a conversation that turned a routine visit into something meaningful.
"I am so sorry to hear about Margaret.. I just moved up in this area a year ago.. Found your pizza place and she made me feel like family as soon as I walked in the door.. I feel like I just lost my Nona all over again," wrote one person. "I will keep my promise to her thought to come in every Sunday no matter what."
"Nino's has been a special place for us for over 30 years. Margaret's genuine caring for us, our kids as they grew up, and my elderly dad - who moved here at age 91 from NJ for health reasons and declared Nino's his new favorite restaurant - is a big part of that," wrote Chris Stanley. "She was a Lansdale gem and will be remembered fondly."
Margaret is survived by her three children, Gabriella, Joseph, and Angelina, along with two grandchildren, her brother Philip, and extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, from 9 to 10:45 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church in Montgomery Township (GPS: North Wales). Interment will follow at St. John Neumann Cemetery in New Britain Township.
At Nino’s Pizza, the lights remain on. The ovens are warm. The work continues.
But for a community that grew up alongside Margaret — sharing slices, stories, and laughter across generations — her legacy is not just in the business she helped sustain.
It is in the countless people who walked in as customers and left feeling like family.
