Obituary for Mary Lou Ghezzi (March 27, 1941 – November 26, 2015)

Ghezzi, Mary Louise (Mary Lou) age 74, of Winter Park, FL., died on November 26 due to complications from a stroke. She is survived by Bertil W. Ghezzi (Bert), her husband of 51 years; her sister, Mrs. Robert Wilson (Lois; Cincinnati, OH); her daughters: Elaine Blout (Tampa, FL.), Clare Ghezzi (Winter Park, FL.), and Mary Kerwin (Orlando, FL); her sons: John Ghezzi (The Woodlands, TX), Paul Ghezzi (Lake Mary, FL), Stephen Ghezzi (South Lyon, MI) and Peter Ghezzi (Austin, TX); and sixteen grandchildren. All remember Mary Lou for her cheerful conversation, quick wit, and bright sense of humor. Mary Lou was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on March 27, 1941.She was educated in Catholic schools with a Bachelor of Science degree from Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA. For 27 years Mary Lou worked as a stay-at-home mom caring for her seven children. From 1992 until 2012 she served as a circulation librarian at the Winter Park Public Library. There she faithfully selected and delivered books to homebound patrons, researched and developed lists for mystery clubs, managed the Morse Museum recommended reading program, created interesting book displays, and more. Mary Lou was a voracious reader and many patrons consulted her for book ideas. In 2012, the library recognized Mary Lou for twenty years of dedicated service by creating an endowment for purchasing large-print mystery books in her honor. Lifelong Mary Lou was an avid sports fan, following college basketball and football, professional basketball, football and especially baseball, which she regarded as a metaphor for life. She understood the ins-and-outs of the sports, maintained a daily detailed knowledge of statistics, and freely offered advice to coaches, who wandered into the Winter Park Library. Along with her husband Bert, Mary Lou was an early responder in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement. She was an active member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, FL. A memorial service will be held 7 to 9 PM on Thursday, December 3 at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL. and a Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, December 4 at 11 AM at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 861 Maitland Avenue, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 .Instead of flowers, donations may be made in Mary Lou's name to the Winter Park Public Library, 460 East New England Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789.