HERITAGE FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICE
4601 East Moody Blvd.
Bunnell, Florida

Mary Fortier Araya



Mary Fortier Araya, 93, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 6:20 PM. Mary is survived by her husband, Arturo Araya, and her three sons, Arturo (Art) of Palm Coast, FL, James (Jim) of Hopkinton, MA, and J. Richard (Rick) of West Hartford, CT. She had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Art’s family includes his wife, Darcy, and their children Joshua, and Heather. Jim’s family includes his wife, Mandy, and their children Devon and Dillon. Rick’s family includes his wife, Melanie and their children Katia, John Sergius (deceased), Grace and Alice. Mary’s great-grandchildren are Zachary, Mason and Noah Dorries born to Heather and her husband Steven. She is also survived by Joshua’s wife, Bryanna, Sister-in-law, Maria Araya Knezevic, and Maria’s children, Niko, Mirko and Nevenka in Chile and generations of adoring nieces and nephews.

Mary was the daughter of the late Olin Fortier of Rutland, Vermont and the late Mary Stankus Fortier of Waterbury. “Sis” was one of 4 children. She is predeceased by her older brother, Olin Francis Fortier (Chuck or Junior), and her younger sister, Helen Connors. Mary is also survived by her brother, John Fortier (Jack), of Mississippi, and dozens of Stankus and Fortier relatives around the country.

Mary was born on March 13, 1929 in Waterbury, CT. Mary spent her early adult life in the service of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, a religious order of Catholic sisters. During that time Mary served God, earned her bachelor’s degree, and taught elementary school in places like Chicopee, MA, Waterbury, CT, Putnam, CT, and Tupper Lake, NY. She also pursued her love of languages. Mary was fluent in English, Lithuanian, French, Spanish and studied Latin. It was her education, her love of teaching and her devotion to introducing people to God that would define her for her lifetime.

In 1962, Mary met her husband of 58 years, Arturo Alfonso Araya, in Chile, where they married and had their three sons. The family lived in the cities of Chañaral, Copiapó, and eventually Rancagua where Mary was hired as the Principal at El Instituto Ingles, a secondary school for the children of American businessmen working in Chile.

In the fall of 1970, Mary and Art moved the family to New Milford, CT where they lived for 35 years. There, Mary’s life centered on family, work, and her service to St. Francis Xavier Parish. Mary’s love of God, and devotion to the Church, led her to decades of preparing people to receive their sacraments, volunteering as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. Upon her retirement, Mary became the Religious Education Director at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, where she was a founding member.

Mary worked for 25 years for the U.S. Dept. of Justice at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT. During that time, she obtained her Master’s Degree and eventually became a unit manager. This was quite an accomplishment for a woman at that time. Her work at the FCI garnered her numerous awards and accolades during the years of affirmative action where she excelled as a strong, capable woman in government service. Her work included temporary duty in charge of the Marielito Cubans at the FCI in St. Petersburg, VA during the Cuban Refugee Crisis of the 1980’s, and an assignment as the translator for the French Ambassador during a visit to the U.S. Mary was instrumental in getting her son, Jim, a job as the Computer Services Manager at the institution, where they enjoyed the unique privilege of working together for three years.

In 2004, Mary and Art moved to Florida where they joined their son Art and his family. Mary and Art frequently said they wished they had moved to Florida years earlier as they enjoyed it there so much. Once in Florida, Mary picked up where she left off with her service to the Church working as Religious Education Director at St. Mary’s Parish. As always, there were children that needed to be prepared for their sacraments, often at the kitchen table, or priests that needed Spanish lessons, or donuts to be sold at the St. Mary’s Fall festivals.

Services will take place on Monday, June 20, 2022 at St Mary Mother of God Church in Bunnell, Florida.

An hour of visitation begins at 9 am, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am.

A burial will follow the mass at St Mary's Cemetery also in Bunnell.

A gathering of family and friends will take place back at St. Mary's Church in the Parish Hall following the burial ceremony.