Mary Virginia Beoubay Petruccelli

1938 - 2023

Mary Virginia Beoubay Petruccelli of Covington, LA since Hurricane Katrina passed away peacefully on November 4, 2023, having spent 85 years creating a beautiful life, a loving family, and a legacy that will endure for generations to come. She was born on August 13, 1938 in New Orleans, and spent her early years Uptown before moving to Chalmette. She is preceded in death by her parents, John G. Beoubay, Sr. and Hercyna Bonneval Beoubay. She is survived by her brother, John G. Beoubay, Jr. Mary went by many names and titles: Ms. Mary, Mama, Grammy, Polly, and Queen of Mardi Gras between Constantinople and Marengo Streets. Standing a mere five feet tall in her prime, she was larger than life, and a celebrity in every room she entered. In 1959, Mary met Luca Anthony Petruccelli and was immediately smitten. They fell in love, married, and had one daughter, Tracy. Theirs was a love cut tragically short, as Luca succumbed to cancer shortly after the birth of their daughter. Mary loved and dearly missed "Lukie" for the rest of her life, though in the tragedy of his untimely passing were the seeds of a prolific and inspiring life to come. Having only completed a portion of her collegiate studies at the time, Mary returned to night classes at Loyola University New Orleans to earn her bachelor's degree in 1969, supporting herself and her young daughter by working full-time during the day at Loyola and then teaching at Spencer Business College. In the aftermath of Luca's death, Mary found herself inundated in legal and insurance documents. She noticed that she had a keen eye for the important details within contracts, and an instinct for navigating complex legal processes. Vowing to help those who found themselves in a similar situation to her own, she went on to Loyola Law School, where she became one of the first 100 women in Louisiana to receive a law degree in 1973. Mary was the first female attorney to open a law office in St. Bernard Parish. The law firm she built, Petruccelli Law Office, lives on in Covington. Mary is also survived by her longtime legal assistant, Lisa Roach Graves. Not content simply to blaze her own trail, Mary dedicated her life to ensuring that others could follow in her footsteps. She unceasingly and selflessly gave her time and support to local charities, social and professional organizations, as well as countless friends, colleagues, and neighbors. She was a longstanding member of the St. Bernard Business and Professional Women's Club, having served as President, and where she was intimately involved in the creation and administration of their scholarship program. Mary is survived by her daughter and law partner, Tracy Ann Petruccelli, son-in-law Richard L. Pouey, and two grandchildren, Kristen Pouey Barton (Andrew Barton), and Trent Richard Pouey (Rebecca Bornstein Pouey). Her love for them, and her pride in their achievements, knew no bounds. Indeed, nothing in life gave her as much pleasure as spending time with the family she built and sharing in their most important moments. She never missed a wedding, a birthday celebration, or a Mardi Gras parade, where she was invariably decked out in purple, green, and gold, and a smile from ear to ear. She was a member of many Carnival organizations and delighted in riding every year. Mary also loved to travel, especially to Prague, Paris, and Berlin. The toys and Christmas ornaments she brought back from her travels will never cease to remind of us of her joyous and adventurous spirit. In her final days, comfortably surrounded by loving family and friends, she remarked that she was having a wonderful time, and asked how long she could stay. We wish she could have remained with us forever, but we know her memory will. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the St. Bernard Business and Professional Women's Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 66, Chalmette, LA 70044. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to be held at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette, LA on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will begin at 1:00 pm. She will be laid to rest in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. To view and sign the Family Guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com.