MARY LOU DESOUZA

DeSOUZA, Mary Lou Of Newton, 1926-2025 Mary Lou passed away peacefully, on September 2, in Atlantic City, NJ. Born Mary Lucy Perry in New Castle, Pennsylvania and raised in Youngstown, Ohio by her parents, Nick and Mary (deceased). She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Lou (Lewis); and her son, Mark. She leaves her children, Nick and his wife, Karen, Richard and his wife, Celeste; her daughter-in-law, Nancy; her sons, John and Robert; Diane and her husband, Edward and Mary Margaret and her wife, Kimberly. Also, her grandchildren, Kara, Melissa, Katherine, Michelle and Joseph and his wife, Paige; and her great-grandchild by them, Luca; as well as her nieces, Sandy Webber and Rosemary O'Hara; and lifetime friend Ruth Yurcich, all of Ohio. Mary Lou met Lou when he attended Ohio University. After their marriage, while he served as an officer in the United States Air Force, they lived in Mississippi and California, before returning to Ohio. Eventually, they moved to Massachusetts, where Lou was raised and finally settled in Newton, where she lived for the past 66 years. In addition to raising her children, she was very active in their schools, her parish of Corpus Christi/St. Bernard's, and Newton politics. She dearly loved her children, their spouses and her grandchildren and great-grandchild. She had a special love for animals, gardening, cooking and baking. She especially enjoyed playing hostess for parties and family gatherings in Newton and on Cape Cod. She was an avid sports fan and loved all the New England teams, especially the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. Her love of flowers led her to create her own Silk Floral design business, Flowers Forever. She served as President of the Franklin School PTA and the Newton North High School PTA, The Auburndale Garden Club and the St. Bernard's Ladies Sodality. At St. Bernard's, she was also a CCD teacher, a long serving lector and Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the Corpus Christi Guild. She also served on the Massachusetts State Garden Club Federation, as a Scouter's Wife in the BSA and a Cub Scout Den Mother, receiving the Silver Bowl Award for her service. She served on the re-election campaign for Mayor Ted Mann in Newton. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 AM, on Tuesday, September 30, at the Burke & Blackington Funeral Home, 1479 Washington St., WEST NEWTON, MA, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the Lower Chapel at Corpus Christi/St. Bernard Parish, 1523 Washington St., West Newton, MA, at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the parish of Corpus Christi/St. Bernard, to benefit their Homebound Ministry; CCSBparish.org Burke & Blackington BurkeFamilyFuneralHomes.com

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