MARY JO PORTER

Mary Jo Porter Mary Jo Porter, 1944 to 2011. "Mary Jo was the most wonderful person in the world. You can count on one hand the number of close friends a person has in their lifetime, and she was one of them," echoed each of her friends and family throughout Mary Jo's life. She was always willing to support another by listening or lending a hand, and giving the shirt off her back or her last penny if it would help. She lived her life with zest and in the spirit of the Serenity Prayer "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference." A dedicated mother of two children, she had a passion for raising her children, spending time with family and friends, traveling, journalism and literature in addition to helping the community in which she lived. Mary Jo was a troop leader for Brownies, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. "Always upbeat and thinking of others," Mary Jo had numerous community contributions that included: Arrowhead Garden Club welcoming families for 200+ homes in her residential community in Wheaton; Good Grief Fun Day helping children deal with the loss of a loved one; numerous board positions for Warrenville Lakes Homeowner's Association; sponsoring two children in Africa and India through Food for the Hungry; and a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program sharing time with a very special young lady, Kelly. Mary Jo was born and raised in Triadelphia, W.Va.; her father, Lawrence F. Wagner, was the mayor of Triadelphia in the 1960s and the family owned the Wagner General Store. She was confirmed at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Wheeling in 1958, and graduated from Triadelphia High School in 1962. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in education from Capital University in 1966, she was a dedicated school teacher shaping the future of youth until she became a full-time mother of two in Wheaton Illinois. When her children were in high school, Mary Jo became a freelance writer for the Daily Herald before joining full-time as the community news coordinator of the neighbor section and story contributor for community events and religion and school activities. Her passion for writing and literature earned her a literary award. Mary Jo retired in 2008, then moved to Miami, Fla. to be closer to her son, Michael, to enjoy time with her family and granddaughter, Dakota. Whether skydiving or traveling, Mary Jo's zest for life and ability to make lemonade from lemons were at the core of her spirit. She was a role model to many and a dedicated Christian, attending Bible study regularly and reading scripture. Her love of literature remained consistent since college and she counted Jane Austen, Paulo Coelho, Ernest Hemingway, CS Lewis, Nick Bantock and Rosamunde Pilcher as her favorite authors. Recreo, Costa Rica; Greece; Italy; Key West, Fla.; Lotusland, Calif. and Paris, France were her favorite destinations with loved ones. With family members at her side, Mary Jo, 67, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at Aventura Hospital in Aventura, Fla. She was a nine-year survivor of breast cancer, and battled congestive heart failure for years. The past seven months she was ill with four heart attacks, not surviving the fourth. Mary Jo is survived by her brother, Lawrence Wagner; her children, Michelle Leigh Porter and Michael William Porter; and her granddaughter, Dakota Sky. As our "Darling girl, Mama Bear, Nanny, BFF and dear friend," she will be missed. Our greatest gift is to have a role model, mother and friend like her. Because of her struggle with breast cancer and the heart failure as a result, the family has requested all donations can be made to the Susan G. Komen foundation at http://chicagoland.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/HIL_ChicagolandAreaAffiliate*px=10175090&pg=personal&fr_id=2250. The donation link is available until Nov. 4, 2011. An open memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Wheeling, W.Va. on Saturday, Dec. 3, with an intimate family dinner at Wheeling Park following. In addition, life celebration luncheons will be held over the coming months in Chicago, Ill. and Miami, Fla. to honor her spirit and zest for life while on Earth. Mary Jo would wish for each of us to love the life you live and live the life you love.