Mary Joan Castro, 88, of Margate, Florida passed away on Monday, February 2, 2015 at University Community Hospital in Tamarac. Mary was born in Brooklyn, New York on Friday, October 1, 1926. She was the second of 4 children to Thomas and Lena Costa. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Thomas, sister Grace, brother Joe, and her beloved son Ernest. She is survived by her 4 remaining children Rosemary, Thomas, Joseph, and Carol. Mary is also survived by her brother, Junior, her 10 grandchildren and her 13 great grandchildren. Mary had worked in research at the Rockland State Hospital, but her main job and her ONLY concern was for her family. For those of us that knew her, knew that her children ALWAYS came first. Then she became a grandmother, then a great grandmother and she became even more protective and fierce in her ways. Mary was also a part of St Vincent de Paul where she was a columbiette for many years. She was extremely trustful and was a religous women who relied on her faith to get her through life. Mary will be remembered for being one of the strongest women most people have ever met as well as the most honest. One of her greatest qualities besides her protectiveness of her family was her ability to be brutally honest to anybody no matter who it was. She was also very kind trying to help anyone in need, and ALWAYS trying to feed everyone the moment they walked through her door. Mary was loved by many and will be dearly missed every day. She will forever hold a special place in all of our hearts. Please see below for service times and directions.