Mary Louise Schiavoni, 97, passed peacefully Thursday, Jan. 28, at home surrounded by her family.
Family and friends will remember Mary Louise as a strong, faith-filled, compassionate and insightful woman. Born in Kalamazoo, Mich., she was the daughter of Martin and Mary Maher. She was predeceased by her brothers, Lawrence, Richard and Joseph. Schiavoni attended Western Michigan University graduating with a Bachelor’s in speech pathology. During World War II she served her country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. She was married to Frank J. Schiavoni who passed in 1987. During 1945 they moved to Haverhill where she was very active in community affairs as a young mother. She was an active member of the Court Sacred Hearts #864 Catholic Daughters of America for more than 60 years serving as court regent several terms. She was an active participant in Sacred Hearts Parish with a devotion to the Eucharist and Rosary. In her later years, she visited shut-ins and comforted neighbors and acquaintances in nursing facilities where she always wore a smile and spoke a kind word. Even though she spent 70 years away from her Michigan hometown, she never let family and friends forget that she was truly a girl from Kalamazoo.
She is survived by her seven children, Timothy Schiavoni and wife, Priscilla, of Haverhill; Thomas F. Schiavoni and wife, Mary McGee, of Boston; Mary Elizabeth Schiavoni and husband, John Cushing of Saco, Maine; Michael Schiavoni and wife, Shirlee, of Roanoke, Virg.; Marilyn Schiavoni of Portland, Maine; Anne Marie Randazzo and husband, Joseph Randazzo of Tarrytown, N.Y.; and Kevin Schiavoni of Haverhill. She also leaves 13 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours took place Sunday, Jan. 31, at the H.L. Farmer and Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 South Main St., and funeral this morning. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be sent to the Mary Louise Schiavoni Charitable Fund c/o Sacred Hearts Court #864 CDA, 48 South Chestnut Street, Haverhill, MA 01835.