Mary Claire Tanfani Howard died unexpectedly at her Memphis home on December 3, 2013. She was born June 2, 1935 in Leland, Mississippi to Sante (Sam) Tanfani and Conchetta Banchetti. The family lived most of Mary's childhood years in Leland or the surrounding area except for a year when her father worked in Memphis. Raised in the Mississippi Delta and at times living in the country, she told of bathing as a young girl in rainwater caught in galvanized tubs. She is survived by her younger sister, Sandra Tanfani Bland (Lanny) of Olive Branch, MS. Mary also had two brothers, Henry and Flavio (Fred), both deceased, and two older sisters Eleanor and Lorraine, both deceased. Mary graduated from Leland High School and left to study nursing at the University of Mississippi at age 16. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and was a freshman and varsity cheerleader during her two years on the Oxford campus. She didn't want to leave her many friends at Ole Miss but she had to in order to finish her nursing studies in Cincinnati, OH. Shortly after her return to Mississippi, Mary was married to Hector Smythe Howard, Jr. of Jackson on February 2, 1957. They were married until his death in 2001. Mary was pre-deceased by her eldest daughter, Mary Leslie Howard, after whose death Mary raised her grandson Charles "Chip" Ogles. And, she leaves four of her beloved children, James Turley Howard and Kelly Howard, David Hector Howard and fiancée Marisa Pugliano, Amy Howard Unruh and husband Kyle Unruh, Jonathan Knight Howard and wife Kim Ammann. Mary also leaves ten grandchildren, Charles (Chip) Ogles as named above, Kaia Marie Tanfani Howard, Abby Unruh Mitchell and husband Clint Mitchell, Tate Unruh, Darby Unruh, Thatch Unruh, Audra Unruh, Carly Unruh, Sophia Ammann Howard and Caleb Ammann Howard. Mary was active in her church life as a member of Second Presbyterian Church and leaves many friends. She was a "Memphis Mom," a "second Mom" and "touchstone" for many others whom she loved dearly. Visitation will be 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, December 10 in the Salmon Room at Second Presbyterian Church. Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Second Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Longtime family friend Rev. Don Riley will co-officiate with Rev. Gerry Peak. Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Associaiton or to the Alzheimer's Association. Canale Funeral Directors. (Published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on December 8, 2013)