Patricia Hartman Mara, 89, passed away peacefully in her home in Virginia Beach, VA, on July 7, 2024. She was born October 17, 1934 in Newport News, VA, the daughter of Navy Captain Joseph and Harriett (Treadway) Hartman. After spending her youth moving around as Navy families do, Patricia found herself in Annapolis, MD, in her early twenties, where she met her future husband of 49 years, CDR Raymond Anthony Mara. Together they and their five children charted their own Naval adventure all over the country eventually settling down in Annandale VA where they lived happily for decades. She moved into a retirement community in Virginia Beach in 2022.

Patricia spent much of her life in service to community organizations focused on children. She was a cub scout leader when her sons were younger, worked with multiple school PTAs, and was employed for many as an in-class teacher’s aide at Parklawn Elementary School in Fairfax County. After Ray’s passing, Patricia found her second calling as a volunteer rocker for infants in the neo-natal ward at Inova Fairfax hospital. She was a voracious reader and a gifted crafter with so many sentimental hand-made items in the homes of her children and grandchildren.

Patricia is survived by her five children Eileen M. Carlson, CAPT Michael R. Mara, Kevin J. Mara, Neil L. Mara and Kathleen M. Roberts as well as 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her older brother Charles Hartman and her younger brother Joseph Hartman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 16 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Philips Catholic Church, 7500 Saint Philips Ct., Falls Church, VA 22042. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband on Wednesday, September 25 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to her favorite charity, St. Jude’s (https://www.stjude.org/donate).