Maria was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, but grew up in the Bronx, NY.  Where her parents taught her to be bilingual, a skill she has used throughout her life.  Educated in Catholic schools, she received an Associate’s Degree in Business from The Wood Secretarial School in New York City.

In 1975, she married her husband Jim and moved to Columbia, SC where she became a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Here Maria worked as the Administrative Assistant in the school office for 28 years. Being bi-lingual also allowed her to interpret for Spanish-speaking families at the school and within the parish.  After retirement Mara also worked part-time as a Spanish interpreter.

Maria has sponsored parishioners in the RCIA process, attended Bible studies, and participated in the SMILE Kit program which involves calling and/or sending a note to homebound parishioners monthly.  She organized and helped sew over 4,300 cloth masks during the COVID pandemic.

Maria has served as the President of the St. Joseph Women’s Society since 2018 where membership increased 21% in her first term.  She instituted the now annual Women2Women “Last Call Before Fall”, a wine and cheese social open to all women in the parish, just one of the many activities she has either initiated or been involved in. 

At the deanery level, Maria has served as Secretary for the Columbia Deanery.  She has attended every state convention since joining her affiliate and was on the decorating committee for the SCCCW Convention held in Columbia.

She is a leader, she is creative, and she is sensitive to others.