Mary Anna Ferrantelli Wise, age 84, died July 17, 2019 at home. She was born on August 2, 1934 in Springfield, IL, the daughter of Gildo Bonura Ferrantelli and Lillian "Lillie" Mae Austin Ferrantelli. She married Donald Amuel Wise on July 31, 1954.
Mary was a graduate of Springfield High School and attended college at Lincoln Land Community College. Mary was a member of the Church of the Little Flower, in Springfield, IL and later became a member of St Joseph’s Catholic Church in 2002. At Little Flower, she was a member of Italian Ladies Society Guild. At St Joseph’s she was a member of the Young at Heart, Mary Widows and assisted in crocheting blankets for newborns. Mary was a professional Beautician, who owned her own salon. She also was a professional wedding cake decorator who received special recognition of her talents in a report of the State Journal Register, Springfield, IL. Mary was a Park Ranger at the Lincoln Home in Springfield, IL. She conducted tours of President Abraham Lincoln’s museum and grounds sharing historical insights and stories with visitors. She was also a tour guide at the Henson Robinson Zoo, Springfield, IL. Mary was an active member in the Red Hat Society, GAB-BEE Gad-a-bouts chapter, Jacksonville, FL. Additionally Mary attended the Mandarin Senior Citizen Center where she had the honor of being the chairperson over the Spaghetti Night and Chili Cook off. Mary also enjoyed doing ceramics and painting at the center. Mary looked forward to her Weekly visits from her personal fitness trainer, Cody Fonder, of Fonder Fitness Gym.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Amuel Wise; her parents, Gildo Bonura and Lillian "Lillie" Mae Austin Ferrantelli; her son, Donald A. D. Wise; 2 Grandchildren, Johnny A. T. Wise Jr and Jessica L. Wise. Mary is survived by two sisters; Gilda Ferrantelli Herndon of Washington, D. C. and Lillie Ferrantelli Keith of Richmond, VA.; five children and their spouses, Venus and Mark Morgan, of Dardanelle, AR, John A. T. and Teri Wise of Atlantic Beach, FL., Laura and Leo Heaton, of Jacksonville, FL., Gildo F. and Leona Wise of Petersburg, IL., and Tamitha and Ralf Czekai of Carmichael, CA.; 27 Grandchildren and 51 Great Grandchildren, 2 Great Great Grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2019 in St. Joseph’s Historic Church, 4214 Loretto Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 with the Inurnment to follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. A Reception will be held at the Cody Center following the Inurnment.
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