Marie Theresa Navarra

In Loving Memory of Marie Theresa Navarra

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Marie Theresa Navarra, who entered into the loving embrace of her Lord on July 14, 2026, at the age of 85.

Marie was born on June 24, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, to Angelo and Louise (Romagnolo) Cipriano. Raised in a devoted Catholic family, her faith became the foundation of a life defined by love, kindness, resilience, and unwavering devotion to those around her.

She was the beloved wife of the late Ramon Navarra, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage until his passing in 1998. Though she deeply missed him, Marie’s strength carried her forward. She continued living independently for the next twenty-eight years—a source of quiet pride throughout her life. She never drove a car, yet she never let that limit her. She could often be found walking to the grocery store, running errands, visiting loved ones, or simply making her way through the neighborhood she loved. Independence wasn’t just how she lived; it was part of who she was.

For more than forty years, Marie was the welcoming face of Simon Insurance Agency. She loved her work, took immense pride in her career, and genuinely enjoyed the people she met along the way. Her kindness, reliability, and warm smile left a lasting impression on coworkers, clients, and friends alike.

Though she took great pride in her years at Simon Insurance Agency and in the independence she maintained throughout her life, the true center of Marie’s world was always her family. Every decision she made, every holiday she celebrated, every birthday card she mailed, and every phone call she made reflected the immense love she had for her children and grandchildren.

Marie leaves behind her devoted children, Diane and her husband, Jay, and Ray and his wife, Debbie. She adored not only her children but also the families they built, welcoming her children’s spouses with the same warmth and unconditional love that defined every part of her life. Diane was not only her daughter, but one of her dearest friends. Together they shared countless summer adventures, afternoons playing board games, and long conversations that neither of them ever seemed to want to end. Marie and her daughter-in-law, Debbie, shared a truly special bond that went far beyond the traditional relationship of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. They were dear friends who loved one another deeply, and Marie treasured the closeness they shared. She took immense pride in the lives her family built and was especially proud that both Ray and Jay dedicated nearly thirty years to serving their communities as police officers. Their commitment to protecting others was a source of great admiration and pride throughout her life.

Her greatest joy was being “Grandma.”

She is lovingly survived by her six cherished grandchildren: Theresa Porcaro (Navarra) and her husband, Greg; Kristin Patrella (Jones) and her husband, Nick; Tyler; Kyle; Justin; and Breanna.

Nothing brought Marie more happiness than watching her grandchildren grow into kind, compassionate, and accomplished adults. She celebrated every graduation, career milestone, promotion, wedding, and life achievement as though it were her own. Whether they chose careers in education, healthcare, public service, business, writing, or leadership, she proudly shared their stories with anyone who would listen, never missing an opportunity to tell someone just how proud she was of each of them.

Her world revolved around her family. She was never far from her children or grandchildren, always checking in, always encouraging them, always celebrating their accomplishments, and always reminding them how proud she was. During her own health journey, she found great comfort in having family beside her—especially the grandchildren who cared for her with the same love and devotion she had always shown them. To Marie, her family’s accomplishments were never measured by awards or titles alone, but by the character, compassion, and integrity with which they lived their lives. She had a remarkable gift for making every person she loved feel seen, remembered, and deeply cherished.

A woman of deep Catholic faith, Marie believed wholeheartedly in God’s promise of eternal life and found comfort in knowing that angels watched over those she loved. Her faith was quiet but steadfast, carrying her through life’s joys and hardships alike.

If you were lucky enough to know Marie, you were lucky enough to receive one of her cards. Whether for a birthday, holiday, anniversary, or simply because she was thinking of you, she rarely let an occasion pass without reaching out. More often than not, she signed her name the same way:

“Always thinking of you.”

Those weren’t simply words she wrote—they were the way she lived.

The measure of Marie’s life was never in the years she lived, but in the way she made every person she loved feel remembered. Long after birthdays had passed, holidays had ended, and visits were over, she made sure the people she loved never doubted they were in her thoughts. Her legacy is measured not by possessions or titles, but by the countless lives she touched through her generosity, compassion, unwavering faith, and unconditional love. She taught her family that the greatest gift we can give one another is simply to be present, to be kind, and to never let the people we love wonder how much they mean to us.

Though our hearts are broken, we find comfort in imagining her exactly as she believed she would be—welcomed into her Father’s house, reunited with her beloved Ramon, surrounded by angels, and watching over the family she loved so dearly.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.”

—John 14:1–3

Marie believed those words with all her heart. Today, we find peace in believing she is home.

And if she could leave us with one final message, we know exactly what it would be:

“Always thinking of you.”

We love you, Grandma… to the moon and back.