Mary Jo Barracca Green of Towson, Maryland, passed away on October 14, 2026.

Mary Jo was the devoted mother of Jennifer and Stephanie Green; loving sister to Robert (Geny), James (Linda), and John Barracca; dear aunt of Karen (Dennis) Radke, the late Kim Digiondomenico, Jody (Paulette) Gardner & Jonah (Soonji) Freedman; and grand-aunt of Reid, Brennan and Celia Radke, Abby (Nick) Digiondomenico, Paloma Freedman, Marlie Gardner, and Ethan Dorman.

Mary Jo was born on May 14, 1942, in Baltimore, Maryland, to James L. Barracca and Mary E. Orlando Barracca. She grew up in Baltimore, attending St. Elizabeth School and the Catholic High School of Baltimore, where she graduated in 1960.

After her high school graduation, she held office positions in various companies before securing a position at McCormick & Company.

On her 25th birthday, while crashing a wedding, she met Dave Green, and they shared the first of many dances together. They were married in 1969 and spent 37 years together, laughing, dancing, traveling, and raising their two daughters. The couple was eager to start a family, and that dream came true when they welcomed Jennifer, followed five years later by Stephanie.

Mary Jo left McCormick shortly before Jennifer was born, to focus on her family. She finished her bachelor’s degree in English from Towson State University once both girls were in school. She held a variety of part-time jobs, always prioritizing being home for them when they arrived home from school.

In 1991, once Jennifer away at college, Dave’s career with McCormick took the rest of the family to Melbourne, Australia, to live. While there, she enjoyed exploring her new city on the tram. Mary Jo made lasting friendships with parents from Stephanie’s school and with other expats she met through the American Women’s Auxiliary, where she volunteered.

Mary Jo spent her life trying to help others. She volunteered in the libraries at her daughters’ schools. Later, she continued her volunteer work with several organizations, including the Save-a-Heart Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Fuel Fund of Maryland, and Maryland Food Bank, most recently working in a food pantry in northern Baltimore County.

Living abroad sparked in her a true love of travel. She and Dave enjoyed traveling together, often to tropical beaches. Since his passing in 2006, she and her daughters have planned a yearly trip abroad, endeavoring to explore the world one country at a time.

Her explorations did not stop when she was at home. She loved visiting museums, seeing plays, and especially trying new restaurants. She routinely walked several miles a day through her neighborhood when the weather was nice. In the summer, you could always find Mary Jo poolside with a book, combining two of her loves, the sun & reading.

Mary Jo took great joy in her extended family and loved watching her nieces and nephews grow into the people they are today. She will be remembered by family and friends for her warmth, kindness, generosity, and sense of humor.

We are heartbroken, but grateful for the amount of time we had with her.

The family will receive friends at Peaceful Alternatives in Timonium, MD on Friday, October 30th, at 12 noon with a memorial service beginning at 1pm in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation for the Baltimore County Public Library or World Central Kitchen.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.peacefulalternatives.com