Margaret Mary Ferrara

Margaret Mary Frances Long Ferrara, born November 19th 1924 in St. Paul, Minnesota to James and Amelia Long, passed away on All Saints Day, Sunday, November 1st at 6:45 am in her home surrounded by family and much love. The sixth of seven children, Margaret (Marge) was raised and educated in St. Paul; first at St. Mark’s Catholic primary school and later at Derham Hall Girl’s Preparatory and Boarding School. At age 23 with a burgeoning sense of adventure and love of travel, she began a nine month intensive training program to become an airline “stewardess”; a decision that truly molded her future. She flew first for Northwest Airlines, then transferred to TWA and was based in Newark, NJ. Marge met her future husband, Michael R. Ferrara, a WWII Army Air Corps Veteran, while on a double date with a girlfriend during a layover flight. At the time, Mike was a Captain with Mid-Continent Airlines and was based in Kansas City where Marge’s flight schedule placed her on frequent layovers. Marge transferred to Kansas City shortly thereafter and ten months later, she and Mike were married. Unfortunately, this brought her flying career to an end due to restrictions preventing airline attendants from being married. Mike continued to fly for Mid-Continent and later for Braniff International in Dallas for a total of 35 years before retiring. Seven children were born in Kansas City with the last two children born in Dallas. Marge had once said "It was a good thing Mike found me because the Ferrara name would have ended without our children." Daily life for Marge as a homemaker and mother of nine was centered and around the care and feeding of her family; especially the feeding. With eleven in the family, she prepared 33 meals a day, excluding snacks, comprised of breakfast in the morning, afternoon lunch and dinner- served promptly at 6:00 pm with all family members present. A typical dinner could consist of five fry chickens, three pounds of potatoes and vegetables, a few other side dishes and dessert. During the holidays, thirty-five for a seated dinner was not uncommon. Marge smiled once when she said she met a woman in later years who told her she had eaten Thanksgiving dinner at her home. All Marge could say was, "you did?" In addition to eating well and becoming a fine Italian cook (thanks to her much-loved mother-in-law Crocifissa Ferrara), the values of a loving home, family and a good education were grounded in a strong Catholic faith. All nine Ferrara children were offered four full years of university education fully financed by Mike and Marge causing her to once quip "…and that's the reason I don't have a fine silver collection! We put nine children through college - my kids are my real silver." During their retirement years Marge and Mike ramped up the use of their well worn passports with extensive travel throughout Europe, Mexico, South America, the Virgin Islands in addition to criss-crossing America; a source of great joy and excitement for both of them. Marge is predeceased by Mike, her husband of 43 years and survived by her “silver collection”: Son, Mike Ferrara and wife Janet and children Sophia, Angelo and John with his wife Sylvia; Daughter Mary Ferrara; Son Dr. Matthew Ferrara and wife Dr. Christine Ferrara and children Luke and Bella; Daughter Ann Basilone and husband John with their daughter Jaclyn; Daughter Gina Ferrara and her daughter Tiffany Yarley; Daughter Barbara Ferrara; Son James Ferrara and his partner David Griffin, Son Richard Ferrara and his wife Dr. Jean Ferrara and children James Michael and Julia, son Thomas Ferrara with his wife Sara who are doing their part to ensure the longevity of the Ferrara name with children Alec, Savannah, Ian Michael, Anton, Kajsa Cecilia and Elizabeth Amelia. In addition to her children, Marge is survived by many nieces, nephews, friends and the friends of her children all of whom she has adopted in spirit as well as her treasured and beloved sister Carmelita Ann Long Peil of St. Paul, Minnesota; the last of her cherished siblings. Visitation shall be on Thursday, November 5th from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm with a Rosary scheduled for 7:00 pm at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Northwest Highway. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Rita Catholic Church, 12521 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75244 at 10:00 am on Friday, November 6th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Margaret Ferrara’s name to St. Rita Catholic Church or the charity of your choice.