Maria G. Porreca

Born in Cervinara, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Francesco and Giuseppina (Ricci) Damiano. She was the beloved wife of the late Carmine V. “Nino” Porreca for 49 years.

She was the devoted mother of Pasqualina Bucci (Agostino), Onofrio R. Porreca (Sharon), Agostino F. Porreca (Linda), Rita Palladino (Giuseppe) and Flora M. Coia (Ronald).

She was the cherished grandmother of (the late) Carmine “Nino” Porreca, Agostino Bucci, III (Maria), William Porreca, Maria Porreca (Domingos), Jason Bucci (Bonnie), Angela Porreca, Nicola Palladino (Vanessa), Franca Rotella (Christopher), Jacqueline DiPasquale (Domenic), Ronald M. Coia, II and Siena Coia and great-grandmother of Onofrio G. Porreca, Agostino Bucci, IV, Maraia Bucci, Ella Palladino, Giada Rotella, Isabella Porreca, Rosalie Bucci, Liliana Palladino, Jason Bucci, Jr., Domenica Calaz, Carmina Calaz, Gabrielle DiPasquale and Giuliana Rotella. She was the sister of Concetta Ricci and the late Pasqualina Luliano.

Maria’s greatest legacy and treasure was her large and beautiful family. Her life was dedicated to her beloved Nino with whom she emigrated from their homeland of Italy to the United States in the late 1950s. Soon after settling in the Federal Hill section of Providence, their family grew to include five children to whom she devoted her entire life. Nino and Maria spent their days carrying on the traditions of their heritage by making homemade wine, sausage and other Italian delicacies. They spent countless hours tending to what was perhaps the finest garden in all of Federal Hill, a fact to which many family and friends with whom they shared its bounty could attest. As her family expanded to include many grandchildren and, later, great-children, Nonna’s kitchen table became the focal point of the family. Her greatest pleasure was to prepare beautiful meals for her family which she loved so very profoundly. Her heart would burst with joy as they would gather for Sunday dinner at which there was never an empty seat. Her home and her generosity was open to everyone she encountered. A deeply devout Catholic, she prayed the Rosary everyday and often walked the short distance from her home to Holy Ghost Church to attend Sunday Mass in her later years. Never concerned about herself, she will always be remembered as a woman of endless generosity and selflessness.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, December 9th at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Ghost Church, 1 Knight Street, Providence. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Holy Ghost Church.