Mario Santo Farinella, 66, of Belmont, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2019
at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the husband of
Josephine Farinella. They shared 44 years of marriage together.
Mario was born August 15, 1952 in Sicily, Italy to Vincenzo and Maria Farinella. He moved to the New
Jersey in 1962. He then moved to Florida in 1990 and worked as a Chief Engineer for multiple hotel chains. He
retired in 2011 and moved to North Carolina in 2016 to follow his grandchildren.
He was an active member of the Queen of Apostles Catholic Church. He enjoyed watching basketball,
Blue Bloods, and Dancing with the Stars. He spent many evenings eating ice cream with his 3 year old
granddaughter. He loved being “Uber” for his 6 grandchildren, taking them to work, school, and after
school activities. He never met a stranger and was able to start a conversation with anyone he passed
while in the store or out for a walk with his wife.
Mario is survived by his wife, Josephine Farinella, his daughter, Maria MacKinnon and husband Ian of
Belmont, North Carolina, and son, Anthony Farinella and wife Stacie of Belmont, North Carolina; six
grandchildren, Cameron, Cheyenne, and Christian MacKinnon and Luca, Liam, and Lyla Farinella.
A wake will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 from 2-4 pm at Simple Service in Gastonia, North
Carolina. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 10:30am at Queen of
the Apostles Catholic Church in Belmont, North Carolina.