Mary (Travers) Portnoy, of East Orleans, passed peacefully on Saturday, August 26, 2017. She was the wife of the late Waltham W. Portnoy, with whom she shared 47 years of marriage.
Born in New Bedford, Mary lived there until moving to Cape Cod with her husband in 1980. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School and worked in the accounting department of Hemingway Transport and later in the family business, Richards Shoe Store.
A warm and effusive woman, Mary enjoyed conversation and laughs with friends and strangers alike, mixing stories from her youth with commentary on eclectic interests including politics, tennis, and music from Elvis and Bob Dylan to Luciano Pavarotti. She loved to entertain guests and was always ready with a delicious dessert, a selection of ice creams, and coffee.
Proud recipient of the Boston Post Cane as Orleans’s oldest resident in 2015, Mary lived independently in her own home until this past October, when she moved to an assisted living facility.
Her family was paramount. Over her long life, she remained deeply devoted to her beloved husband, parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren.
Survivors include daughter Elizabeth A. Carreiro of Duxbury; sons John W. Portnoy of Wellfleet and William E. Portnoy of Wilmington, NC; nephew Peter Travers of St. Helena, CA; and five grandchildren. Mary was predeceased by her parents, John and Anna (Oliver) Travers; brothers John, Lewis, and Francis Travers; and sister Elsie Motha.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 29 in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Nickerson Funeral Home of Orleans. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com .
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18