Mary was a graduate of Welch High School where she was an active participant in social events in school and at her local church. After graduation, Mary stayed home and attended to her parents while her brothers went off to college. Mary also worked in town at the local theater where she met her future husband Charles Porter Jr.

Shortly after, she married Charles Porter Jr. and they moved to Washington, DC. Years later they moved and resided in Woodbridge, VA, together for 45 years and were happily married for 53 years. Mary worked for Ma Bell and AT&T, retiring after 25 Years of service as a long distance telephone operator.

Mary was very competitive and enjoyed participating in playing horseshoes, bowling, checkers, and various other activities of a competitive nature. She was also an avid fan of football; particularly the Redskins, enjoyed classic musicals, as well as any films starring Elizabeth Taylor or Betty Grable. She also enjoyed traveling and shopping with her girls. She was a second mother to many and she greatly enjoyed partaking in activities that involved her daughters and their friends.

On November 6, 2024, Mary peacefully entered into the Kingdom of Heaven. She was born on February 28, 1931 in Rhodell, WV, Raleigh county. She was the second born of the late Luigi and Maria Patrinacola. She was preceded in death by her older brother Angelo Patrinicola and her husband Charles Porter Jr.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter Theresa Moyer and grandchildren Charles and Hailey of Perryville, MD. Daughter Maria Porter-Toure’ and son-in-law Oumar, and grandchildren Charles Khalif and Angelo Sidi, of Bowling Green, VA, brother Tony (Barbara) of Washington State and a host of nieces and nephews that loved her dearly.

In her life she portrayed the example of strength, faith, and a deeply humorous nature to all who knew her. She was a woman of great compassion, very opinionated, and protective of her family. She was a devout catholic and a loving mother and grandmother who took great pride in the accomplishments and endeavors of both her children and grandchildren alike.  Her magnetic nature impacted all that knew her in a way that cannot be described. She was the backbone of the family and her memory will endure in our hearts forever.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 in St. Francis de Sales Church, 614 S. Oakwood Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801.  Entombment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at St. Francis.

Memorial contributions  may be made to nationalbreastcancer.org/donate or alzfdn.org/donate.