Mary Rita Graziano Johnson

Mary Rita Graziano Johnson was born in New Orleans on July 27, 1924, and passed away on July 3, 2023 in Robertsdale, Alabama. She was the only child of Victoria Verdigets (Verdichizzi) and John Graziano. Mary, or “Marita” to her family, attended 13 schools before graduating Baton Rouge High School in 1942. Her father was a bridge builder, so the family moved frequently before Johnny Graziano settled in as the safety supervisor at Ethyl Corp in Baton Rouge. After high school Mary attended Baton Rouge Business School, and then landed a position at Gulf States Utilities. She was one of two women working in the plant when she met Raymond Johnson, who would become her husband and father of their three children. After the birth of their first child, Mary and Raymond moved to New Orleans, where their two other children were born. The family moved to Gramercy when her husband took a position with Kaiser Aluminum, and where they would remain for many years before moving to Baton Rouge.

Mary Johnson is preceded in death by her parents, and Raymond Johnson Sr, her husband of more than 25 years, and their beloved son Raymond Johnson Jr., who died in childhood. She was also preceded by her daughter-in-law Kathy Johnson.

Survivors include her daughter Jo Ann and her husband Tom Henson, and her son John Johnson. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Shelley Bourgeois and her husband Mike Chapa, Monica Bourgeois and her husband Neil Gernon, Jeremy Johnson and his wife Amy Forsberg, David Johnson, and Tommy Henson and his partner Alex Cheatwood. Great grandchildren include Andrew Bourgeois and his partner Mackenzie Aplin, and Gabriel, Sophia and Sabrina Johnson. Mary is also survived by her great-great granddaughter Marceline Bourgeois. An only child, she also loved her nieces and nephews on her husband’s side as her own.

Mary was an amazing mother and taking care of her children (and their friends) was always her primary occupation. She also volunteered at her children’s school as a substitute teacher and library assistant. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years. Additionally, she retired from the Louisiana department of Transportation as an exceptional secretary, but her priority was always caring for her family.

Above all, her deep faith and unending devotion to God and the Catholic Church sustained her through many seemingly insurmountable challenges. She never lost that faith, and in her final days she put her life in God’s hands. She was at peace in her final hours.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 10, 2023 at St. Joseph Church 2130 Rectory St. Paulina, LA. Visitation will be held from 10AM - 11AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to begin at 11AM. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.