MARY SANTARCANGELO CAMARATA, 91, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, entered into eternal life with our Lord on Friday, December 10, 2010. Mary Camarata was born on February 22, 1919 to Nunzio and Vittoria Santarcangelo in Worcester, Massachusetts. As a young child, she was raised in Houston with her siblings, Camille, Rocco (preceded in death) and her surviving brother, Nick. After graduating from Sam Houston High School, she married Joseph Paul Camarata on September 13, 1936 at Sacred Heart Church in Houston. She was a homemaker, seamstress, cook, and much more to her ten children and her legacy consisting of thirty-two grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and ten great-great grandchildren.
Both Mary and Joe were devoted Catholics and volunteered to serve the community through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Mary never turned down a stranger’s request for food – she believed that any face could be our Lord and Savior in disguise (Mathew: 35:40). Everyone knew her as a very kind, humble and selfless person who always had a smile on her face.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Joseph Paul Camarata. Survivors include ten children and their spouses, Bessie (Richard) Benefiel, AJ Camarata, Mary Jo (John) Boultinghouse, Vicki (Steve) Nicol, Emmanuel (Marian) Camarata, Cecilia (Bobby) Vann, Janice Camarata, Joseph (Cristina) Camarata, Regina (Elias) Macal, and Julie (Robert) Galloway, thirty-two grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren; Nick Santarcangelo, brother, numerous nieces and nephews.
Special heartfelt thanks to Bessie, AJ and Mary Jo who cared for our mother so intently over the last 6 years. We are grateful beyond any words we can express.
Visitation: Sunday Dec 12, 2-4 pm and Monday, Dec 13 6-8 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm, Earthman Bellaire Chapel. Funeral Mass 10:00 am, Tuesday Dec 14; Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Downtown. Interment: Forest Park Lawndale Garden of Gethsemani. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society.
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