Obituary of Mamie Tori

Mamie Tori (nee LaPorta), 97, passed away peacefully on March 20th, 2018. She was the beloved wife of the late John L. Tori, loving mother of John Tori, Joseph Tori and his wife Kristina; cherished grandmother of Thomas, Jonathan and Steven. She is also survived by her nieces, Rosalia Hearn (nee Carmello) and Rosalia Harrington (nee Fiore), and her nephew through marriage, Joseph Harrington. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas, and her four siblings Jeanette Fiore, Ralph LaPorta, Rae Carmello and Louis LaPorta. Mamie also enjoyed a special relationship with her half-sister, Ginny Ledwon. Ginny was very special to Mamie; frequent visits gave her many happy moments in recent years. Mamie Tori was born Sigismundo LaPorta in 1921 in Sicily, to Rosalia and Thomas LaPorta. She arrived to the United States by boat at the age of 5 and immigrated through Ellis Island. When she started school, teachers found her name too difficult to spell and pronounce, and they promptly renamed her "Mamie." At a young age, Mamie became a hairdresser for the family salon, Thomas' Beauty Shoppe, in Port Richmond. She was devoted to her clients until August 2013. Mamie also enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, as well as sewing and collecting her family heirlooms and photos. She was dedicated to her Catholic faith, and was a longtime parishioner of Christ the King in Port Richmond. She was a lifelong resident of Staten Island. In 1947, she married John L. Tori, a Merchant Marine. They remained devoted to each other until his death in 1995. She became a Gold Star Mother when her oldest son, Marine Corps LCpl. Thomas J. Tori, was killed in action in Vietnam on October 16th, 1967. Mamie was loyal to the Staten Island Marine Corps League long after her son's death, and made contributions to soldiers overseas by sending shoeboxes filled with necessities. "She was beautiful and tough; she taught us to endure heartache with grace and to remain faithful in love to family and friends through the best and worst of times," said her grandniece, Shannon. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 26th at 10am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 1265 Castleton Avenue. Family and friends are invited to visit on Sunday, March 25th from 3pm – 7pm at Matthew Funeral Home, Inc., at 2508 Victory Blvd.