Mary Louise Perriello

Mary Louise Perriello, known to her friends simply as Mary, was born in Charleston, WV on October 29, 1938. She died on November 21, 2024 at the age of 86. She was a resident at Chevy Chase House at the time of her death.

Mary Louise graduated from Dunbar High School in Dunbar, WV in 1956 and immediately went to work at the Kanawha County Public Library. She then attended and graduated from what was then Morris Harvey College in Charleston, WV with a bachelor’s degree. In 1966, she bravely launched herself into the world of Washington, DC starting her career at the FBI and retiring from CEDPA, an international leader in designing and implementing programs to improve the lives of women and girls. She made her home in DC for nearly 60 years creating an independent and active life full of travel, music, dance and time with her beloved cats, Tony Tiger and Suma. Singing was her passion. She sang in her church choir. She also sang at Wolf Trap and had solo recitals. She was a kind and generous person who never forgot a birthday. She also loved Christmas and would proudly announce when she had finished her Christmas shopping each year, which was usually in September or October. Christmas will not be the same without her.

She is survived by her brother, Patrick Joseph Perriello, Sr and his wife Norma of Baldwin, MD, and her sister-in-law, Linda Perriello of Charlottesville, VA. She is also survived by her niece Elizabeth Perriello Rice, her husband Ken, and their children Allison, William, and Caroline of Baltimore, MD; nephew Vito Perriello III, his wife Maureen, and their children Vito IV, Katherine, Kelsey, and Cadigan of Charlottesville, VA; niece Paige Perriello, her husband Neeral Shah, and their children Amari, Bela, and Linlee of Charlottesville, VA; niece Marites Perriello and her husband Reese Winpenny of Timonium, MD; nephew Tom Perriello of Charlottesville, VA; nephew Patrick Perriello, Jr, his wife Courtney and their children Amelia and Evelyn of Great Falls, VA. She is predeceased by her parents Vito Anthony Perriello, Sr and Rose Galzerano Perriello, as well as her brother Vito Anthony Perriello, Jr.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024 from 3 – 5 pm at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home at 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016. A funeral mass will be held at Saint John the Evangelist Church at 13313 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082 on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 10:00 am. Burial and reception will follow.

* The family thanks Georgetown Village and Chevy Chase House for the exceptional care and compassion they showed Mary in her final years.