ASHTABULA — MaryLou Sespico, age 92, passed away Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, at Silver Sands Shared Residency.
She was born Sept. 17, 1920, in Mamont, Pa., the daughter of Paul and Ruth (Linsinbigler) Ackerson and had been an Ashtabula County resident most of her life.
A 1938 graduate of Edgewood High School, she later graduated from the Ashtabula General Hospital Nursing Program and began her career as a registered nurse. After her retirement, she became a member of the Retired Nurses Association of Ashtabula and continued to volunteer at the hospital where she was considered “the entertainment”, as she continually lifted the spirits of both the patients and staff.
Music was a huge part of MaryLou’s life. She sang in the Mt. Carmel Church choir while the kids were in school, sang with the Covered Bridge Chapter of the Sweet Adeline’s Women’s Chorus for many years, and sang with a double quartette called Songs Are Us. A born entertainer, she had a song for every occasion and loved to dance at weddings. She loved classical and Big Band music and her favorite entertainers were Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.
She also enjoyed shopping and deeply loved her family, regularly stopping in to visit and get a “kid fix.” Her wit, wisdom and wonderful sense of humor made her so fun to be around and will leave a legacy that will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved her.
Her survivors include five children, William A. (Elaine) Sespico of Ashtabula, Mary R. (Tom) Bamburak of Cornville, Ariz., Ann C. Sespico of Scottsdale, Ariz., Joseph F. (Barb) Sespico of Mentor and Kathleen S. (Charles) Hamalainen of Ashtabula; 14 grandchildren, Eric, Matthew, Christopher and Andrew Sespico, Adam and Aaron Perkins, Jenny Perrin, Bryan and Joseph Sespico, Julie Griffith, Sara, Paul and Clare Hamalainen, and Annie Emery; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carmen Sespico in 1990; one sister, Betty Ackerson in 2007; and her parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4th, at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Mt. Carmel Worship site, 1200 E. 21st St., Ashtabula. Fr. Raymond Thomas and Monsignor Matthew Ojara will preside. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memory Gardens, North Kingsville.
Calling Hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 3rd, at ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula.
Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, Silver Sands Shared Residency, or Our Lady of Peace Parish.
Obituary at www.ducro.com and starbeacon.com.
