Maria Antuono Porkka was born in Nola, Province of Naples, Italy on August 14, 1945 to Carmine Antuono and Francesca Ambrosio-Antuono. She was the third child, and first daughter, of six children.
Maria graduated from Giovanni Borelli High School and attended University in Naples, then became an elementary school teacher. Maria continued her education, moving to Frankfurt, Germany to attend foreign language school. It was in Germany that she met her future husband, Charles Porkka, by happenstance, as he was stationed in Germany and encountered her in a restaurant frequented by soldiers and students.
After a few years of courtship, Charles and Maria married in Naples, Italy on June 29, 1967 and the couple moved to Muskegon, Michigan to begin their married life in the United States.
Charles and Maria welcomed two daughters, Helen and Michelle, into their family. It was during this time that Maria and her brother, Domenico “Mimi” Antuono, opened a restaurant and pizzeria in Muskegon, beginning a series of successful business ventures throughout Maria’s life.
Upon Maria’s insistence, Charles re-enlisted in the United States Army, taking their family to a series of destinations, to include Germany, Georgia, California, and Kansas, prior to settling in Oklahoma, where they had spent four tours of duty at Ft. Sill. They were married 56 years.
In 1990, Maria opened her retail store, “The Apothem”, in Norman, Oklahoma, becoming a premier retailer of Oklahoma Sooner merchandise. Under Maria’s direction, the Apothem expanded to include exclusive Sooner merchandise and host signing events.
A woman of many talents, Maria also purchased Willowbrook Gardens, a wedding chapel in South Oklahoma City. Maria was a gracious and creative hostess to many wedding events, Quinceañeras, and family gatherings. Maria committed her life to excelling as a wife, mother, Nonna, sister, aunt, and business and community leader.
She was preceded in passing by her parents, Carmine and Francesca Antuono; her in-laws, Ted and Helen Porkka; brothers, Nandino and Mimi Antuono; nephew, William Primo Antuono; beloved daughter, Michelle Bodenstein; and beloved Nonna, Lilliana Traverso.
Maria leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband, Charles Porkka; daughter and son-in-law, Blake and Helen Wolney; granddaughters, Emma Bodenstein, Hannah and Emily Wolney; son-in-law, Adrian Bodenstein; sisters, Geppina and Rosaria Antuono; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Angelo and Patrizia Antuono; nephew, Killian Antuono; nephew, Alessandro Traverso; sister-in-law, Nunziatina Antuono; nephews, Carmine and Raffaele; nieces, Franca, Concetta, Anna, and Patrizia Antuono; niece, Sonja Antuono and son Alessio Centore; nieces, Luana and Alessia Antuono; aunt, Maria Ambrosio, dear family friends Chris and Christi Frederick and many more cousins, many many many friends who all became family to her.
The service will be live-streamed and can be accessed by using the link below.
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY3NDAwODMwNjIzMDk0NCZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==
Click here to view a webcast of the service on 1/20/2023 at 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time.