Mari Victoria Recio Westforth, age 74, of West End, moved to heaven on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Mari was born October 9, 1951 in Havana, Cuba, and was the daughter of the late Alberto Recio and Olga Pujol Recio. She took great pride in her family history, which was Cuban with Spaniard roots. At the age of 11, Mari emigrated to the United States and became a proud U.S. citizen. Her family settled in Miller Beach, Indiana, where they built a new life after escaping communist Cuba. After graduating from Wirt High School in 1970, she attended Indiana University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in education at Eastern Montana College in Billings.
She began her career in education in 1973, teaching at Sacred Heart High School in Miles City, Montana. Over the years, Mari taught English, Spanish, and English as a Second Language in elementary, middle, and high schools across Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, she went back to school in 2003 to pursue her Master’s Degree in School Administration, completing her thesis titled “A Heart for Education.” In June 2005, she proudly graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and began working as Assistant Principal at Lee County High School in Sanford until her retirement in June 2016.
Throughout her career in teaching and school administration, Mari positively impacted the lives of countless students, families, and colleagues. She was warm, lively, funny, and compassionate, always making people feel welcome and supported. As dedicated as she was to her educational career, Mari was even more devoted to her family.
She married the love of her life, Larry Westforth, in August 1971. They shared a love of music and often played guitar together during their early dating years, with Larry often serenading her outside her window at night. In their 55 years together, they raised four children and created a beautiful life together as partners, friends, and lovers. Mari was a devoted wife, standing by her husband’s side as the Pastor’s wife, offering support to him and the church community through prayer and guidance.
Mari took immense pride in her children and grandchildren and could always be heard cheering the loudest in any crowd at their events. Her family will always treasure the sound of her infectious laughter and her spontaneous singing of song lyrics to fit the mood or conversation. Mari is preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Rachel Westforth.
She is survived by her loving husband, Larry Westforth; daughter Victoria (Robert) Dietrich of Sanford; two sons, Robert Westforth and Michael (Chandra) Westforth of Montana; three grandsons, Jackson Dietrich, Lincoln Dietrich, and Hunter Westforth; and granddaughter Isa Dietrich.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1:00 PM, followed by a time of food and fellowship at Boles Funeral Home located at 425 W Pennsylvania Ave, Southern Pines, NC 28387.
Online condolences may be left at: www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
