Louise Panzarella

LOUISE MARIEPANZARELLA, 94, passed away peacefully on December 27th, 2009. She was born on November 28th, 1915 in Chicago, Illinois to John and Ortenzia Brizzolara. She attended Chicago Musical College and DePaul University. She married the love of her life, Carlo J. Panzarella MD, and they moved to Texas in 1942. Together with Carlo, she raised 4 children, John Edward Panzarella, Sandra Paulette Lowry MD, PHD, Carlo J. Panzarella DDS, and Robert Louis Panzarella MD. She was very active in her husband's medical practice, helping him with the bookkeeping, managerial duties and even helping out with nursing when needed. She was widowed in 1969, and then began a very active civic career. From 1969-1979 she was the first woman elected to the Humble Independent School District School Board. From 1979-1985 she was elected to the Humble City Council and served two terms. She was only the second woman elected to the City Council and that remains to this day. From 1985-1988 she was re-elected to the Humble Independent School District School Board.She was actively involved in numerous organizations and Clubs in the Humble area. In 1972 she was a member of the Steering Committee for Development of an Humble area college and this became a reality in 1972 as the North Harris Montgomery County College. She was a bank director of First City Bank for 8 years, an Honorary Life Member of the PTA, President of the Atascocita Women's Golf Association, President of the Harris County Women Golfers, President of the Humble Lioness Club and Board of Directors of the Humble Chamber of Commerce. Board Director of Symphony North.In 2003, Louise was honored as the 2002 Haden E. McKay "Citizen of the Year". She was very active in Charity work as well. She chaired the following organizations:M.D.A.A. for 11 years Easter Seals, Crippled Children for 7 years. Muscular DystrophyCancer Fund(Humble Area) in 1969 March of Dimes for 8 years. She was also very active in FFA, cooking hamburgers at the annual Fair and Rodeo for many years. She was active in Boy Scouts, functioning as a den leader and shepherding three sons up to the rank of Eagle. She was very active in her church, St. Mary Magdalene, for over forty years. She was a member of St. Mary's Council. She was the oldest parishioner currently attending St. Mary's. In her younger years in Chicago, she had been a very accomplished violinist and loved music her entire life. She was a member of the choir at St. Mary Magdalene's for many years.She loved gardening and her yard was known as the showplace of Humble. People loved to drive by her yard just to see the beautiful azaleas, camellias etc that she always had blooming every season. Louise was also proud of the fact that she could speak three languages, French, Italian, and English. She had many hobbies and interests through the years, especially golf, cake decorating, ceramic making and bridge. She enjoyed her weekly bridge games for most of her life.Louise was always very proud of her children and her family as it grew. She was proud of the fact that she raised four professional children: John was a Chemical Engineer with Dow Chemical, Sandra has a PHD in Virology and then Medical Degree and became a pathologist, Carl was a dentist and practiced in the Humble area for many years, and Robert is an emergency room physician practicing in Baytown, Texas. Grandchildren have since gone on to become lawyers, physicians, accountants etc.She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlo J. Panzarella MD and her parents, John and Ortenzia Brizzolara. She is survived by her children which include, John and wife Rosamond, Carl and wife Sue, and Robert and wife Beth, and Sandra Lowry and husband Terry. Grandchildren include Danyette Hamlin and Husband Brad, Jenny Burr and husband Ed, Shelly Panzarella, Jeff Lowry and Wife Kristin, Anne Taylor and husband Kyle, Amy Collis and husband Chris, Vincent Lowry and wife Melissa, Cristin Stewart MD and husband Rich, Wendy Leblanc and husband John and Robert, Dominick, Joseph, and John Panzarella. Great grandchildren include Maddy and Saili Lowry, Kylee, Jackson, Logan and Jolie Taylor, Carter, Spencer, and Clara Collis, and Conner Lowry. Also Lily and Lexi Stewart.Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o' clock in the afternoon until eight o' clock in the evening at Rosewood Funeral Home, 2602 Old Humble Road, Humble, Texas 77396. A rosary in her honor will be said at that time. The mass of burial will be said at 11:30 am at St. Mary Magdalene Church, 527 South Houston Avenue, Humble, Texas 77338, with interment to follow at Rosewood Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, all are invited to return to St. Mary Magdalene Church for a meal and celebration of Louise's life with the family.