Ann Marie (Sbordone) Porcello, 81, of Salem

Obituary and photo courtesy of O'Donnell Funeral Service

SALEM, MA- Mrs. Ann Marie (Sbordone) Porcello 81, of Salem, beloved wife of the late William Porcello, died Friday, July 8, 2016 at Grosvenor Park Nursing Home in Salem.

Born in Lynn she was the daughter of the late Frank and Martha (Franco) Sbordone. She was the daughter-in-law of the late Joseph and Catherine (Molina) Porcello. She was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn Classical High School, Class of 1952. She continued her education at Salem State College graduating in 1956 with her Bachelor's Degree in Education. A lifelong learner, later in life she would earn her Master's Degree in Education from Salem State College.

From a very young age, Ann always recognized she wanted to be a teacher. She began her career teaching at the Highland School in Lynn but would soon transfer to the Salem Public School Department where she would spend the next 34 years inspiring her pupils. As an educator, she did her best to engage and inspire all of her students. She taught at the Horace Mann School and was part of the first group of educators to teach at the Witchcraft Heights School and would continue to do so until the time of her retirement in 1998. Well respected by her colleagues for her knowledge and ability to connect with each and every one of her students, Ann would use her creativity to make a difficult lesson easy for all her students to learn.

Mrs. Porcello married the love of her life Bill in 1958 and together they would make Salem their home. She was an active member of the former St. Francis Church in Lynn, the former St. Mary's Italian Church in Salem and more recently Holy Family Parish in Lynn where she would volunteer with many of the bazaars and Italian Festas. Ann and her husband Bill loved to visit their vacation home in Thornton, New Hampshire where they made many friends over the twenty years they resided there. Together they traveled to Alaska, Arizona, Italy and England and for the past few years they wintered in Florida and took great pleasure in joining other Salem State Alumni in Naples at the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Her life's passions were education, travel, her faith, her cherished canine companions Fitz and Nicky and above all else her beloved husband Bill and her devoted daughter Jane and her extended family and friends. She will be greatly missed and always remembered.

Ann is survived by her daughter Jane E. Porcello of Salem, her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Peter and Carol Porcello of Salem, Anthony and Edna Porcello of Peabody, Theresa and Richard Bennett of Danvers, Catherine and Joel Fish of Osterville and Rose Porcello of King of Prussia, Pa, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins including John B. Sbordone and his wife Ann Marie of Reading and life-long friends Virginia Kautz of Lynnfield and Gloria Daniels of Lynn. She was the cousin of the late Lillian Sbordone, and sister-in-law of the late Mary Porcello, Emily Quirk, Caesar, Rudolph, Joseph, Edward and Rita Porcello.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral will be held from the Peterson-O'Donnell Funeral Home 167 Maple St., (rte 62) Danvers, Thursday, July 14th at 11 A.M. followed by her funeral Mass in Holy Family Church, Bessom St., Lynn, at 12 noon Relatives and friends invited. Burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours Wednesday, July 13th from 4 to 8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Ann's memory to the Class of 1956, Salem State University, Alumni Fund, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem MA 01970. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visitwww.odonnellfuneralservice.com