Mary Clare (Cullen) LaPorte

 Mary Clare LaPorte (nee Cullen) died peacefully at her home in Poland, Ohio, on Friday, Nov. 9.  Born in Cleveland on May 11, 1950, to the late Terrence and Genevieve Cullen, she was the beloved wife of the late Daniel G. LaPorte. Mary Clare was a graduate of Holy Name High School in Cleveland, Class of 1967; Ursuline College in Pepper Pike; and the University of Akron School of Law. Early in her career, she taught for several years at St. Monica's in Garfield Heights and St. Joseph's in Cuyahoga Falls. During law school, she was one of only two students chosen to clerk for former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Honorable Arthur J. Goldberg, during a constitutional law seminar taught by Justice Goldberg.  Upon earning her J.D. degree and passing the bar, she had a varied practice, including clerking for the Honorable David D. Dowd, Jr., Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.  A member of St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Youngstown and Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Vienna, Ohio, she was unwavering in her devotion to the unborn, working tirelessly on their behalf as an attorney and private citizen.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, her parents, infant brother Michael James, and brothers-in-law Deacon Robert Kochanski and Richard LaPorte. She will be dearly missed by her sisters Kathleen Kochanski, Jean Cullen and Margaret Cullen; brothers Charles Cullen and Joseph Mayo-Cullen and his wife, Alexandra; and brother-in-law Dale LaPorte and his wife, Kathy. Mary Clare had many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, and she cherished them all. Known for her kindness to animals, she was never without a dog or cat, usually several at a time.

Calling hours are from 5 - 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at Edward J. Fox & Sons, 4700 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44512. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at St. Dominic's, 77 East Lucius Ave., Youngstown, 44507. Burial will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mary Clare's memory be made to St. Dominic's, Queen of the Holy Rosary or Right to Life.

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