Mary N. Villarreal

Maria (Mary) Natalina Villarreal, née Ferraiuolo, aged 93, of Allen Park, passed away on February 5th, 2026. Born on December 16th, 1932, at 5654 Lauderdale Street, Detroit, MI, Mary was the second youngest of Cornelio and Fiorina Ferraiuolo’s six children.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Anthony (Tony) Villarreal, parents, Cornelio and Fiorina Ferraiuolo, her siblings, Joseph (Bernice), Diamond (Geraldine), Ralph (Jenny), Christina (Ed) Kachman, and Neil, her son-in-law Ron Marshall, and daughter-in-law Darlene Villarreal. Mary is survived by her children, grandchildren, sister-in-law, Betty Ferraiuolo, sister-in-law, Toni Villarreal, and dear childhood friend, Anna Lepidi.

Stories of Mary’s youth were filled with playful anecdotes of her time growing up in Detroit’s heyday. To her children and grandchildren, her stories could feel almost fantastical. From the time a bubblegum factory exploded, filling the streets with bubblegum, the scent lingering in the neighborhood for weeks, to her brief foray into a life of crime as an ice thief with her childhood friend, Anna.

Mary showed little interest in the more traditional feminine pastimes as a young girl, often rushing through her embroidery to play baseball with the neighborhood kids. As she grew older, Mary maintained her spirit of play and enjoyment of the outdoors. She loved tending to her garden and feeding the neighborhood squirrels and birds. Even into her senior years, she looked forward to basking in the summer sun.

Mary attended Holy Redeemer High School where she was a member of the Glee Club and in the Sodality for three years, later working at Timken in Detroit as a secretary for management. Prior to graduation, on May 12th, 1950, she attended the Holy Redeemer High School Junior-Senior Prom where her dance card showed Tony Villarreal, securing the first and sixth dances with her. Three years later, she married Tony, the love of her life, on February 7th,1953 at Holy Redeemer Church in Detroit, MI. The couple resided in Detroit before moving to their current home in Allen Park, MI.

Together, Mary and Tony went on to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ with seven children: Anthony (Jocelyn), Debbie (the late Ron) Marshall, Thomas (the late Darlene), Florence (Anthony) Visintainer, Neil (Nancy), Laura (Charles) De Biasi, and Keith (Agnes), with 27 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, 2 soon-to-be great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was full of light, warmth, and curiosity. Always eager to learn and understand, her appetite for the world showed itself in her voracious reading, her excitement for travel, and later, when her sight waned, in her immense conversational ability and remarkable memory. That same sharp mind allowed her to continue enjoying the things she loved, including Bingo, which she played by memorizing two cards and faithfully bringing them with her every Tuesday to Seniors Club. Anyone who spent time with Mary could find themselves drawn into expansive conversations, ranging from childhood memories to current events. Yet more than what was discussed, those who knew Mary will remember how she made them feel. Enveloped in warmth and care, Mary was a true safe haven for friends and family. She treated everyone who entered her home with the same kindness and hospitality, friends, family, and the occasional celebrity alike.

Mary was a prolific cook and baker, first having learned how to bake cakes from neighbor, Bertha, at the age of eight before she could properly see over the stove. Mary followed recipes rarely and loosely. She went on to feed generations of hungry mouths and develop a reputation for never allowing a guest to leave without a full stomach, sometimes in spite of protests.

Mary loved Christmas. Not only did it mark the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but it was also the one holiday she knew her entire family would attend. Until about a decade ago, when our family grew too large to manage, Mary would stuff dozens upon dozens of artichokes, always a cherished treat.

And speaking of treats, when the desserts were carried down from the upstairs bedroom and laid out on the tables, it was always a sight to behold. Spread across the tables were the finest homemade desserts anyone could ask for. The assortment always included, but was never limited to, cannoli shells and filling, pizzelle, tarallucci, apricot cookies, nut rolls, pecan tarts, rugelach, marshmallow cookies, and mint brownies. Remarkably, Mary made all of these herself well into her late eighties.

Christmas Eve without Mary and Tony will never be the same. The two will always be with us, especially on Christmas Eve, whether it is through baking some of Mary’s recipes or having that yearly Christmas Eve tequila shot for Tony. They will be thought of fondly.

Above all, Mary was a woman of deep and abiding faith. Prayer was the foundation of her daily life, and she faithfully prayed the rosary each day with a special devotion to the scapular and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her daily prayers always included her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are encouraged to share a memory and pictures of Mary with her family at www.martenson.com.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 12th, from 2:00–8:00 PM at The Martenson Family of Funeral Homes (10915 Allen Rd, Allen Park, MI 48101). Visitation will continue on Friday, February 13th, from 9:00 AM until the Mass of Resurrection at 10:00 AM at Christ the Good Shepherd (1540 Riverbank, Lincoln Park, MI 48146). A private final commendation and committal at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery will take place at a later date.

In loving memory of Mary Villarreal, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made to Mary’s Mantle, A Catholic Home for Expectant Mothers, honoring Mary’s wishes to support mothers and babies in need. Donations can be made online at www.marysmantle.net or by mailing a check to: Mary’s Mantle PO Box 365, Southfield, MI 48037. Please include Mary Villarreal’s name with your donation.