Louise Philomena Crescenzi

March 6, 1944 ~ July 22, 2026

Louise reluctantly but joyously left this troubled earth to be with her beloved Lou where she will continue to worry about and watch over all of us from her place in Heaven. She will live in the hearts and souls of her children Carolyn Louise and her late husband John Rein, Laura Elizabeth and her husband, Louise’s “buddy”, Michael Hanson, and her son John C. Crescenzi, Esq. as well as the broken but full hearts of her most cherished grandchildren, Vivian Hope, John Francis III (JT), Kalvin Sebastian, Lilalou Love, Willa Allen and Angiolina Grace.

Louise (Loulou to her family) was born to Louis Amato Picardi and Philomena Borelli Picardi in East Boston, Massachusetts and with her big brother Sonny she completed their little family unit where they were part of a much larger close and loving family. Her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends all lived within a few city blocks and they were all about family all the time. Louise loved where, how and with whom she grew up. She had so many stories about games on the sidewalks, biking and sledding down Lamson Hill, full Italian meal picnics at the beach, and time spent in “The Park”. Louise in her very Zazz, as she was called by those who knew her best, way was always adjacent to the mischief but never, ever displayed any “Park Manners”. She was so very proud of her elocution lessons, her penmanship, her faith and her strong conviction that family is everything. Her time spent at Mount Alvernia was one of the most impactful experiences of her life. It taught her how to assimilate into environments where she learned to connect with people from different areas of the city and the world with different economic situations. She learned how to find the commonality and the human connection. She learned and lived that although we are very different we can always find common ground and from that place find mutual respect and admiration. In a time when women were not as likely to pursue higher education Louise attended Fisher College and received her associate’s degree. Louise was brave, intelligent and always ready to show how she shines when faced with challenges.

After graduating from Fisher, Louise went to work with Dr. H. Walter Jones in the Back Bay area of Boston. She and Dr. Jones formed a bond and a friendship that she cherished for her entire life. It was through this experience that Louise learned her worth as an assistant and a medical coordinator. She was a steadfast and dedicated colleague. She and Dr. Jones together created a medical practice where both they and the patients thrived. It was around this time that she met the legendary Lou Crescenzi at a CYO dance and Louise dedicated the rest of her life to him and their cherished family. They proudly built their house at 28 Foxtail Road in Hanover which became epicenter of good times. Simple summer talks on the front steps while the neighborhood kids ran around, fun neighborhood game nights, Sunday dinners and hosting holidays and her most cherished Christmas Eve celebrations complete with a visit from Santa which continued until her last Christmas. Louise was an actual Den Mother for the local Boy Scout troop and a “Den Mother” for all of her children’s friends. There are many, many stories about Louise picking up kids all over town and bringing them to games, scout meetings, CCD and most often her house for fun with friends. It was during this time that Louise drove her wood paneled station wagon with the School Bus sign on top shuttling children from home to the Cardinal Cushing School. She loved and honored the children entrusted to her care with the utmost compassion and dignity. Louise and Lou dedicated much of their time to the students at Cardinal Cushing and throughout the community through their shared dedication to Hanover’s Rotary Club and the John Curtis Free Library.

As her children grew Louise focused on helping her community through her employment as the adored school secretary at the Sylvester Elementary School in Hanover. She held this position so very close to her heart. It truly gave her purpose and joy to help anyone who was struggling through school days, students, teachers, and administrators. Louise became everyone’s “Pal”. She looked out for those who needed it most and for some who didn’t even know she was quietly taking care of them. It was her mission to make sure everyone felt included, seen and heard, always.

When her children began to move away from Hanover Louise decided it was time to go back to her roots, her medical background and her beloved city. The Pediatric Unit at Joslin Diabetes Center literally was never the same again. Louise gave her actual blood, sweat, tears and so much love to that institution and everyone connected to it. She went far above and way beyond every hope or expectation. She treated each child and family that came to Joslin as if they were her own, always without exception. She left a loving handprint on so, so many hearts. The people she met along the way have in so many ways become her family too, she cared for them all as if they were hers and you felt it every time she put her arm around someone and said…”let’s see what we can do”.

And then Louise became a Grammie and the rest of the world would disappear when she was in their presence. To Louise they are the smartest, most beautiful , talented, gifted, caring, funniest people she’s ever met and would do anything including the seemingly impossible just to make them smile.

Louise faced life’s challenges with attitude and grace. She loved her family and appreciated her friends. She loved life and living and laughing, she hated the sadness, tragedy, pain and trauma, although we know she’s up there doing something about all of this right now!! Louise knew all too well that pain and loss is all part of being alive and dedicated her life to helping everyone she met get through this thing called life by consistently showing up for the people she loved, people she just met, and people she didn’t even know with a smile and a helping hand. She loved her life, she loved her people, she loved her music and she loved dancing, especially in the rain!! So if you see two figures dancing on the moon or over the rainbow, smile and know it’s Lousie and Lou still worrying about, watching over, cheering for and dancing with you!!

Please join us to celebrate Louise’s incredible life Sunday August 2nd from 3pm to 6pm at Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington St., Route 53, Hanover. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday August 3rd at 9:00am at Our Lady of the Angels ~ St. Mary’s, 392 Hanover St. (Route 139), Hanover.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Rockland Holiday Magic an event started by her dear friend Ann to bring holiday cheer to people who need it most. Donations can be sent in Louise’s honor to Rockland Holiday Magic, PO Box 50, Rockland MA 02370

or The John Curtis Free Library. Lou and Louise’s dedication to preserving and expanding the library was one of their proudest community efforts and Grammie’s favorite place to spend time with her grandchildren who now hold these memories so close. Donations in Louise’s honor can be mailed to: The Friends of the John Curtis Free Library, 534 Hanover Street Hanover, MA 02339