Mary was born on May 19, 1940, in Humacao, P.R., to Cristino Pinero and Ramona Reyes Pinero. She graduated from Dodge Grace High School in the Bronx, New York in 1958. After graduating, Mary held several secretarial jobs and continued to sing with various church groups in New York City. Through this passion, she met the love of her life: Emilio Benitez, Jr. They married on March 18, 1961 at John 3:16 Church in the Bronx, New York.
They soon started their family and moved to the Town of Newburgh, New York in 1972. She immediately turned their house into a home; they lived there until 2019 when after she retired from the Newburgh Central School District as a Teacher’s Aide. In that home she nurtured her children and grandchildren, creating a lifetime of memories.
Her Christian faith and Christ-like selfless devotion to others, helped shape the lives of all she met. What truly made Mary happy was quality time with her husband, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren and friends. She prayed for all and never held grudges or disdain for anyone. With God as her foundation, her family and friends were everything to her and were often what drove her to give more than she received. Always ending her calls with, “Call me if you need anything”, she was someone we could count on for unconditional love 24/7.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Joey and her sister, Miriam. Survivors include her husband, Emilio Benitez Jr.; three sons, Lenny Benitez and his wife, Sandra of Lakeland, Fla., David Benitez of Newburgh, N.Y., Emil Benitez and his wife, Allison of Sandown, N.H.; daughter, Lisa and her husband, Michail of Fort Montgomery, N.Y.; grandchildren, Krystal, Sasha, Brianna, Stephanie, Kaitlyn, Anthony, Jackson, Grady, Zachary (step), Quincey (step); great-grandchildren, Jayden, Angel; former son-in-law Scott Strine; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A funeral service for Maria will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, Tampa, Florida. Interment to follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the funeral home.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5