Mary Ann Ricci

PORTLAND - Mary A. Ricci, age 80, died unexpectedly in a single vehicle accident on May 15, 2017 in northern Maine. By the hand of God, she did not suffer. Mary was born in Portland, Maine on May 18, 1936 to James and Julia (Geary)Ricci. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School and a member of the Zug sorority. Mary graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1962. Mary was born the second oldest of eight children and lived for 72 years in the heart of Portland's former Little Italy on Hampshire Street. Mary was a communicant of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and had a very strong bond and loyalty to the Sisters of the Precious Blood on State Street. Mary worked for almost 20 years as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Mercy Hospital Maternity ward and became department head nurse. It is accurate to say that she tenderly helped deliver an entire generation of Portlanders. Mary had a spiritual calling to her profession and was designed by God for her life's work to help all in need. She embodied a spirit of trust, prayer, and mercy while caring for the physical and emotional needs of her patients. Mary truly carried the compassion of Christ in her heart whether you were family, friend, or homeless and intoxicated on the street, her care for you was complete and unconditional. Mary's fearlessly stubborn faith in Christ and her care for others made many in her family concerned for her well-being. However, a higher power always seemed to guide and protect Mary, and over time many referred to her as the Mother Theresa of Portland. Mary always had a most tender place in her heart (and her purse) for children and animals. Simply put, she made kids feel like magic. It seemed everyone knew and referred to her as "Auntie Mary", because she made each person feel like they were her favorite. She was infamous for feeding strays on the waterfront and her family was always amazed and grateful to the City of Portland for not charging her with obstructing city property to fatten feral cats for the winter. Mary had a very close and devoted relationship with her 7 brothers and sisters and was truly a second mother to them. She would always put other's needs first, insisting on helping them regardless of her own health, pain or fatigue. We know Mary would like Chris Foley and Joe Carson to know how much their sincere support meant to her throughout her life. Mary is survived and so dearly missed by sisters Dolores Sylvester, Helen Ricci, Evelyn Butts, and brothers James and Patrick Ricci as well as 43 nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents James and Julia Ricci, her sisters Ann (Ricci) Guimond, Ursula (Ricci) Carson, sister-in-law Laurie (Pratt) Ricci, her nephews James Tanerillo and Patrick Ricci as well as her niece Tina Ricci, her life-long friend Sister Mary Aloysius, and her most beloved dog, Sparky. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, May 22 from 4-7PM at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 23 at 9:15AM followed by a 10AM Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Broadway, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Milestone Foundation, Development Department, 65 India Street, Portland, ME 04101 or the Sisters of the Precious Blood, 166 State Street, Portland, ME 04101