Born in Bosisio Parini in Provincia di Como, Mary Ceravolo grew up in the north of Italy; her parents were of Calabrian origin. After completing her schooling, she trained as an accountant and secretary. At the same time she was developing a strong interest in painting, and her achievements in this field gained early recognition in Italy.
In 1985 she married Giovanni Silvestri who had grown up in Australia, and whom she had met soon after his return to Italy. Her son was born a year later, and in 1988 her first daughter was born. In 1991 she emigrated to SA with her husband and family. Once settled in Australia she worked in various capacities, including as a volunteer in schools. Her second daughter was born in 1995. She started writing poetry (in Italian) and sending it to journals. Her first works to be published in Australia appeared in Nuovo Paese. In 1996 she successfully applied to the Council for the Arts and Cultural Development of SA for a grant to have some of her work translated. The translations were done by Isobel Grave. Since 1996 her work has appeared in various periodicals both bilingually and in translation.
Alongside her activity as a poet she is studying to become a practitioner in Alternative Medicine.
