Mary Louise Perry
October 1, 1949 — January 10, 2017
Poland - Mary Louise Perry, 67, after a courageous battle against cancer, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10, 2017, at Hospice of the Valley's Hospice House, surrounded by her family.
Mary Lou was a 1967 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School. After graduation, she volunteered with the domestic anti-poverty program, VISTA (AmeriCorps). She served in Georgia and Tennessee. She taught reading and writing and helped establish a community center in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
She retired from the Ohio Turnpike, where she was a toll collector.
Mary Lou was always ready to help those around her, putting the needs of others before her own. She enjoyed all types of music. She loved the ocean and visited every chance she could, Ocean City, N.J., in particular, where she spent many summers as a child.
More than anything, Mary Lou loved being with her grandchildren. She was always planning outings and activities, whether going to the park, the museum or baking a cake. She was nonjudgmental, encouraged their creativity, and was proud of their successes. Besides her grandchildren, she held a special place in her heart for the Knight and DeRosa children, who she babysat.
She was a proud member of the Ladies Mt. Carmel Society, Lowellville. Where she served as the financial secretary before becoming ill. She enjoyed playing on the society’s bocce team and volunteering at the annual Mt. Carmel Society Festival.
She was preceded in death by her father, Louis M. DiIanni, a brother, Louis C. DiIanni, and a grandson, Marshall V. Perry.
She leaves her mother, Mary DiIanni of Poland; three sons, Tom Perry, of Norfolk, Va., Jeffrey (Heidi) Perry of Boardman and Jason Perry of Pulaski, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; a great-grandchild; her brother, Claude (Elaine) DiIanni of Boardman and her sister, Joanne McHugh of Poland.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Holy Family Church, 2729 Center Road, Poland, with the Rev. Msgr. William Connell as Celebrant. The Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland is handling arrangements.
The family asks that any memorial donations be made to Hospice of the Valley's Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.
http://www.hospiceofthevalley.com/donate.html
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.