Mary Lou Vitanza

Mary Lou Vitanza, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, gracefully transitioned from this world on November 1, 2023, surrounded by the loving embrace of family and friends at the Buckingham in Houston, Texas.

Born as Mary Loucia Greco on March 2, 1928, in the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, she was the daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Angelo and Serina Greco, who ventured to the United States in the early 1900s.

Mary Lou dedicated herself to her family's grocery store from the tender age of 12 until her marriage in 1948. It was at the store’s deli counter that she first encountered Sebastian Anthony Vitanza of Jamestown, New York, whom she later married. The couple relocated to Kirksville, Missouri, in 1949, where Sebastian attended medical school. Following his graduation, Dr. Vitanza (affectionately known as Sibby) and Mary Lou established their home in Erie, Pennsylvania, where they lived for nearly four decades.

Active members of the Kahkwa Country Club, the Lawrence Park Golf Club, and the East Erie Turners Club, Mary Lou found joy in playing bridge, golfing, and swimming. Unfazed by Erie's lake-effect snowstorms, she embraced winter activities, from skiing and skating to snowmobiling and building snowmen with her children. Beyond her family life, Mary Lou contributed her time as Volunteer Coordinator at the Doctors Osteopathic Auxiliary, the Erie County Crippled Children Center, and the Erie County Rape Crisis Center. She also took on modeling assignments for local department stores, showcasing her friendly and outgoing nature. Her skills as a coordinator and impeccable taste made her a renowned hostess throughout Erie County.

In 2002, upon Sibby's retirement, the couple embarked on a new chapter in Orlando, Florida, establishing a second home close to their surviving daughter Valerie Grier, her son-in-law Ed, and grandsons Joshua, Michael, and Daniel. When the Grier family took an expatriate assignment in Tokyo, Japan, Mary Lou and Sibby relocated once again, this time to Austin, Texas, where their surviving son, David Vitanza, his wife Laura, and grandsons Angelo, Sebastian, and Carlo resided. They spent vibrant years at the Querencia retirement community in Austin. Following Sibby's passing in 2017, Mary Lou made a final move to Houston with David's family. She leaves behind a legacy of beauty and grace, cherished by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Naomi, Averie, and Logan Grier.

The family is eternally grateful for the in-home caregivers who provided full-time care with comfort and loving compassion for the many months she lived in Houston. Their loving care allowed Mary Lou to stay in her home and to feel safe, make friends and enjoy the beauty of life. A special thanks to Marva Hodge-Hawkins, Myrna King, and Ladonna Johnson, who made everything work smoothly; to Latesha, Marshelle, Pam Emilia, Sharee and Tanisha, who were not only extraordinary helpful, but so gentle, kind and caring to Mary Lou and her family. She loved them in return and tried her best to tell each of them how grateful she was and what they meant to her. They will remain in our hearts forever.

A PRIVATE celebration of life for Mary Lou will be held Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 2:30 PM at The Buckingham, 8580 Woodway Dr,, Houston, TX 77063.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Vitanza family.