Mary L. Pagac

Middletown, RI - Mary Lourdes Pagac, 88, of Middletown, RI, died Monday, March 5, 2012 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI. She was the wife of the late John J. Pagac, who died Feb 17, 2012. Born in Newport, RI on March 8, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Custodio S. and Mariana Amelia Pinheiro Pinheiro, who emigrated from Cedros, Faial, Azores. Mary graduated from Bryant College with a bachelors degree in business. She worked for twenty years at the Newport Naval Station in different offices, including four years to the Chief Clerk of the US Naval Supply Depot, four years to the Commanding Officer of the General Line School, one and a half years to the Commanding Officer of US Naval Recruiting Command and seven years to the Commanding Officer of the US School of Naval Justice. Mary left civil service to become a full-time wife and mother. She later returned to work as a legal secretary for several Newport attorneys. Mary volunteered much of her time to various social service agencies. She was a member of the Holy Lay Order of Franciscans and Vasco da Gama, Holy Ghost Society. She was heavily involved in the Charismatic Movement of the early seventies, and a daily attendant at St. Josephs Church until her health prohibited. She loved reading, politics, current events and traveling, and made trips to Spain, Portugal, South America and Bermuda. More than anything else, she loved talking to people and learning about them. She was warm, friendly, gracious, generous, merciful, compassionate, thoughtful, inquisitive, brave and stubborn. Her mind held hidden depths. She was funny and delightful. Above all she was kind. She loved her children deeply. Her light will never fade.She leaves her son, John C. Pagac of Lake Worth, FL and her daughter Mary Susan Pagac of Newport. Mary also leaves her four loving granddaughters, Alexandra, Laura, Caroline and Amanda Pagac. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Antonio, Albert, Avelino and George Pinheiro.Calling hours will be held Friday, March 9 from 6:00-8:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway, Newport. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 8 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 am in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport. Burial will be in Newport Memorial Park in Middletown.