Marie Elena Ranalli

Beloved Spouse, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Teacher, Faithful Parishioner, Cherished Family Member and Friend

Marie Elena Ranalli, born December 25, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Vera and Patrick Martin (now deceased), returned home to the Lord on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her brother Dennis and is survived by her husband John, children Tom Ferrell (Jodi), Patrick Ferrell (Melissa), and Laura Graf (Erik), her sisters Patricia Riker (Ed) and children Andrea Pomerleau (Josh), Nicole McMahon, and David Riker (Dana), JoAnne Hinson (and children Jennifer and Christina), Karen Gray (Gary). She leaves behind three grandchildren, Malena Ferrell, Leah Ferrell, and Emma Grace Graf, as well as her great grandson Olive Ferrell.

Marie professional life began with her training at Oneonta College and the Bachelor of Education degree she was awarded. Her life was marked by excellence and heartfelt dedication to education, serving as a primary grade schoolteacher for New Hanover County Schools. Her extraordinary compassion and love for children inspired all who knew her and earned her the Teacher of the Year award in 1988-89. This was an honor bestowed upon her by her peers who admired her collaborative spirit and generous mentorship. Marie’s colleagues cherished her warmth, her willingness to help, and her steady encouragement, all of which fostered a nurturing and inspiring environment for everyone around her. She touched countless lives throughout her 33 years of service, both as a classroom teacher and as a reading program coordinator. She was formally trained as a reading program coordinator, a role in which she uplifted both students and fellow educators with her innovative approach and unwavering support.

Beyond the classroom, Marie’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. Her spiritual journey in North Carolina began at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Castle Hayne, where she was an active parishioner from 1971 until 1998. Early on she sponsored and hosted a family from Poland. She then served as parish coordinator for Marriage Encounter and Cursillo, led her parish in the Renew program, and received training as a lay minister, consistently guiding others in their spiritual journeys.

She then became a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wilmington, serving faithfully on the Small Faith Community Development committee from 2000 to 2004. Her unwavering faith and commitment to service guided her throughout her life, making her a lay leader and a beacon of kindness in her parish communities.

As a devoted Franciscan Companion she served at Avila Retreat Center on weekends where she offered compassionate presence and friendship to those seeking solace and spiritual growth. Marie’s commitment to the common good also extended into her volunteer work at the Arboretum with the Friends of the Arboretum as she served on its membership committee and in its Gift Shop.

Marie’s legacy is one of faith, a unique compassion, devotion and dedication to others. Qualities that made her a beloved figure within her family, church, and the wider community. Her family, friends, colleagues, and students will forever remember her as a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and teacher. Her passing is a tremendous loss for all who had the privilege of knowing her.

She balanced her life of service with a love for travel, especially to Italy and Portugal and on cruises. Mahjong was her favorite game that she played with two groups of her friends. She loved to cook and watch cooking shows. From this she loved gathering family and friends into her home to savor the results of her wonderful talent.

Marie was deeply grateful for the nursing care she received at Novant Hospital. She spent much of the last three months of her life on the seventh floor (pulmonary unit) receiving wonderful care from all the nurses and other members of the health care team.

Even in death Marie gave life as she was an organ donor. This was a compassionate and generous act of donation. She was able to save the life of someone who was a burn victim. We are grateful for Honor Bridge from Chapel Hill for their service in this regard.

A funeral service and reception will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Carolina Beach Road on Wednesday, April 22 at 9 am. Fr. John McGee will be the principal celebrant with Msgr. John Wall the homilist and Fr. Tom Davis a concelebrant. Interment will follow at Memorial Cemetery Gardens after the reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Marie's honor to:

Friends of the New Hanover County Arboretum, Inc.

6206 Oleander Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

Cash donation to the above address or

Go to the following website: https://thefriends.wildapricot.org/one-time-donation

Cape Fear Literacy Council

1012 South 17th Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

Cash donation to the above address or

Go to the following website: https://www.cfliteracy.org/donate/

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com