Anna Carol Mudd Porretto

Anna Carol Mudd Porretto, age 84, passed away at Big Bend Hospice, March 12, 2022, surrounded in person and spirit by family and friends. She was the beloved wife of 66 years of Charles (Charlie) H. Porretto. Carol was born in Reed, Kentucky on Sept. 1, 1937, the daughter of the late Joseph David Mudd and Sarah "Sadie" Isabel (Richards) Mudd. Carol grew up in a large farming family and was one of eight siblings; Lena Jo, Stella Marian, Margaret Isabel, Edna Mae (Tiny), Thelma Marie (Peggy), Joseph David, and Minnie Ruth. In addition to her adoring husband Charlie; Carol is survived by her sister Ruth Johnson of Evansville, IN., five of her six children; Anna Taylor and husband Steve of Michigan, Paul Porretto, Gia Jelinek and husband Jerry, Chuck Porretto and wife Carol, and Maria Retamal, all of Florida, her 10 grandchildren; Danielle, Charlie, Dustin, Jordan, Tavo, Ryan, Nick, Ryan, Julia, and Christian, her three great-grandchildren; Colby, Nixon, Gwen and numerous generations of loving cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends from all corners of the country. She was preceded in death by her son, Dean McDonald Joseph Porretto. Carol attended the girls boarding school and high school at St. Vincent Academy in Morganfield Kentucky, and upon graduating in 1955, this beauty of Sophia Loren magnitude, was ready to venture forth from her Evansville, Indiana home to the dazzling lights of New Orleans, to live in the French Quarter with her big sister. Working as a salesgirl in the gift shop of the renowned Court of Two Sisters Restaurant, Carol's life would be irrevocably altered when she caught the eye of an all too ambitious and confident sailor of Italian descent. The young man was recently home from service and back in his old stomping grounds that happened to encompass the very neighborhood where Carol had recently taken up residence in a balconied apartment on Bourbon Street. After numerous attempts at polite and friendly rebuff; Carol succumbed to the many charms and wiles of Charlie, and they were soon married at New Orleans' St. Louis Cathedral on Jan 7, 1956. Charlie's family adopted Carol immediately, with Charlie's mom, Mil being like a mother, and Charlie's sister, Jan being like another sister. The extended family all tried their best to teach Carol Creole and Italian cooking (successfully), how to eat blue crabs without a knife (limited success), and how to host Sunday dinners that take three days to prepare (resounding success!) It was in this lovingly chaotic environment where Midwest beauty and sensibility collided with New Orleans culture and zest for life, to create a family that has spanned four generations. During the next two decades, Carol raised six willful children and skillfully executed the demands of large and bustling households, from a small Louisiana farm, to the suburbs of Tallahassee. She served as room mother, den mother, troop leader, chauffer, chaperone, and volunteer. All while perpetually planning birthday parties, bake sales, sleep-overs, picnics at the lake, beach days, boat days, field trips, camping trips, and road trips with the family of eight in a station wagon... sometimes with Grandma... and a large German Shepherd. About the time her children were approaching middle and high school, Carol decided it was time to go to college. First she took a part time job as a guidance assistant at Cobb Middle School where she developed her love of counseling. She then went on to take classes at Tallahassee Community College where she earned an Associate's degree, Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, and finally another Master's degree from Florida A&M University in Educational Administration. Carol served her community as a job placement specialist, a school guidance counselor, and the Migrant Farmworkers Program Administrator at Lively Technical and Vocational School. She also spent many evenings counseling as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Upon retiring from a twenty five year career with Leon County Schools, Carol embarked on many adventures with Charlie. They continued their earlier love of sailing in and around the Gulf of Mexico and ports beyond with their sailing friends. Together they traveled extensively including long trips in their motor coach. Carol especially loved Colorado; and Nova Scotia held a special place in her heart. Carol and Charlie loved to have a coastal retreat. Their seaside residences included Shell Point, Navarre Beach, and Oyster Bay. They would spend countless days at the coast, and on the water on their pontoon boat. Carol would read while Charlie fished. After many years of these fast paced adventures, they settled in to enjoy a more leisurely retirement in their Killearn Estates home. Carol became a member of the Jasmine Circle of the Tallahassee Garden Club. She and Charlie volunteered delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. Recent years found Carol working in her garden, trying new recipes, reading and watching movies, walking her little dog, Jolie, and still preparing those famous Sunday dinners for friends and family. But most importantly, her greatest accomplishment, was that whether early in life, mid life or later in life; everyone who came to know Carol, left with a feeling that they were loved and cared about, and were in the presence of someone eminently special, and uniquely endowed with a limitless capacity for love, caring, and concern. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Home of Carol and Charlie Porretto on Saturday March 26 at 2.00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com 850-385-2193)

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Anna Carol Mudd Porretto

September 1, 1937 - March 12, 2022