Family Message

In loving memory
Mary Gargano
29.09.1958 – 24.10.2026

Mary passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Caritas Christi Hospice, surrounded by her closest family and a gazillion photos of her granddaughters.

Mary was a devoted and loving wife of 42 years to Joe and mother extraordinaire to three: her favourite firstborn Nicholas, favourite middle child Christopher, and favourite daughter Laura. Doting “Nanna” to Nina, Annie and Emmy; mother-in-law to Tammy, Max and Rebecca; sister to Lina, Josephine, Frank, Annie and Lizzy; and friend to so many.

A lover of beautiful words and loather of poor grammar by those who should know better, Ms Gargano (a.k.a. “Gagz”) dedicated 40 years to her vocation as a teacher, red pen in hand, guiding and opening young minds to brilliant new worlds through language and literature.

A daily crossword puzzler and a voracious consumer of news, Mary was a lifelong reader of The Age.

She was the heart of our family and will be with us always.



Mass for the repose of the soul of Mary Gargano, will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hawthorn, on Wednesday, (November 4, 2026), at 10am.

There will be a private interment at a later date.

Messages of love and support for Mary's family may be left via the Signature Book below.

In lieu of flowers, Mary's family encourages donations to the society below.

Donations: St Vincent de Paul Society