Mary Catherine "Mary K" Danna Palumbo, 86, died on November 7, 2016, in New Orleans, LA, after a long struggle with cancer. She died peacefully, surrounded by her adoring family. Mary K was born on October 15, 1930, in New Iberia, LA to Sebastiano and Sarah Cuccio Danna. After graduating from Mount Carmel School in New Iberia and marrying Vincent Palumbo of New Orleans in 1947, the couple moved to New Orleans and together raised their three children, Michael, Danna and Lisa. In addition to raising three children, she was employed for many years as a buyer for the bridal department at Maison Blanche and later, ran the bridal department at Gus Meyer, and enjoyed a successful career that enriched her life and provided many amusing stories to tell. After these stores closed in the 1980s, she continued her work in retail long past retirement, holding part-time positions at Saks 5th Avenue, Little Miss Muffin and until just months ago, British Antiques. Mary K had many hobbies and interests. She had a great love for gardening and cooking and could easily spend hours outdoors tending her plants. She was masterful in the kitchen, where she prepared amazing meals, often gourmet and other times, in the old Creole, Cajun and Sicilian traditions. Everyone loved her cooking. Her hot tamales were legendary. When not in the kitchen or the garden, she could while away the hours engaged in needlepoint, crochet, knitting and had also mastered the lost art of tatting. She had a special interest in decorative painting and for years was a member of Greater New Orleans Chapter of the Society Decorative Painters. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Vincent J. Palumbo, her parents, Sebastiano and Sarah Cuccio, of New Iberia, LA and her parents-in-law, Michael J. and Catherine T. Palumbo of New Orleans, with whom she was very close. She is survived by her brother Camille Danna, and his wife Joyce, of Erath, LA, her son, Michael Palumbo and wife Andrea, of Harahan, LA, her daughter, Danna Halpin and husband Stanley of Lafayette, LA, and daughter, Lisa Palumbo of New Orleans. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Laura K. Palumbo, Michael B. Palumbo, Marisa Toups (husband, Justin Good), J. Vincent Toups, (wife, Shelley Rogers), Andrew Toups, Caroline Halpin Draughn (husband, Shane), Alexander Palumbo-Green, and Rachel Palumbo, and two great-grandchildren, Turing Good and Vivian Patten. She was very close and "Grandmary" to Cozette Bordelon, her daughter, Remi, Michelle Bordelon, and her daughter, Honore Bordelon-Cardin. The family would like to thank Dr. Zoe Larned for imparting hope and trust until the end, the staff at the Benson Cancer Center at Ochsner, and the many caregivers along the way, especially her granddaughter Rachel Palumbo, and Mabel Alexander of Lafayette, LA. Mary K will be remembered by all who knew her for her sharp wit and sense of humor, the way she could make people feel instantly at ease, her incredible cuisine, her handcrafted gifts, her eternal optimism, but most outstandingly of all, for her kindness, generosity, patience, goodness and the many, many other ways that she never failed to show love. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She made the world a better place. Services will be held on Thursday, November 17, at 1:00 PM, with visitation beginning at 11:00 AM at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, La., 70124.To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.