Barbara Dileo

Barbara (Barb) DiLeo passed from this life to the next in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 21st. She had family nearby to attend to her needs, and care, and had been in the presence of loving family just the night before.

Barb married Anthony Louvaris – A Marine, (post college (Wittenburg (Lutheran) University, Springfield, OH )) and they had two children (Bobby & Nancy) together; then living in California. They were a mobile couple, making their homes in California, Oregon, Georgia, then Florida. Throughout her life, she fostered a relationship of great depth with her children. She loved family! They loved her back! She was a grandmother to 5 granddaughters, and 1 great granddaughter. As with many other relationships, she was profoundly loving with her host of girls, of the grand variety, and they deeply loved her back!

Barb was a kind, fun-loving, gentle person, and adored people! She was described (even in her later days), as having a “twinkle in her eye”. She could bring joy to a room! Her personality was kind of electric, and joyful. Easy to be around!

She never lost track of her Lutheran upbringing (many generations of Lutheran pastors, including her father & brother), and clung closely to her faith throughout her life.

Barb’s career was in the teaching profession spanning approximately 35 years, with her focus mostly on 5th graders. She was deeply loved and appreciated both by her students, and administration, as witnessed by the multiple teacher awards she garnered over the years! She was known to have taught a child of Hank Aaron. During her teaching career, she met a Principal, John DiLeo, with which the fancying was mutual, and they eventually married. John brought a “life is zestful” quality to the marriage, and they lived happily while RVing around the country for a bit, and digesting life together in a fun relationship. For many summers, their eldest granddaughter, Shannon would accompany them on their cross-country travels in their RV, giving testament to the relationship with family.

Barb was always a dog lover! Her story of losing Mickey to a car accident, until Mickey showed up at the house, is legendary! They made the newspaper together. Her family-instilled humor was very evident when telling this story.

Barb was preceded by in death by both her husbands, Anthony Louvaris, and John DiLeo, parents Ada Miriam (Zufall- Kelly) Riley & Paul Snowden Kelly, as well as her siblings, James Kelly, and Robert Kelly. The closest surviving members of her family are her son, Bobby Louvaris, wife Suzanne Louvaris, and daughters, Chrissy and Kelly. Her daughter, Nancy Marrano, and her daughters, Shannon, Cara, Jillian and granddaughter Harper (of course, Barb’s great granddaughter).

Barb will be laid to rest at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park & Funeral Home. A memorial service for family will take place in mid-August.

As testament to the relationship which Bobby & Nancy had with Barb, they found great solace, and meaning in the following statement; describing the mother relationship, handed to Bobby by a friend. They agreed that this epitomizes their view of relationship with their mother.