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 is 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.