Mary Lou Ann (Albano) Paulli

Mary Lou Ann (Albano) Paulli, born April 29, 1936, and nearly 87 years later, died on April 15, 2023.  She passed away at home, comfortably and peacefully, with family at her side.

For 53 years (April 19, 1958-November 3, 2011) she was the loving wife of Paul James Paulli, Jr.

For more than 60 years, she was also the remarkable mother of three children:  Lucia (and Robert) Presswood, Fr. Kenneth Paulli, O.F.M., and Lia Gallo.

She was the amazing “Gram,” or “Big Gram,” or “Nanna” to four grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Caitlin (and Chandler) Gonzales, Matthew (and Kyrstin) Hill, Taylor and Marc Gallo, Knox Hill, and Luella Hill.

She is also survived by her sister, Lucy Ann (Albano) Burke (and Robie); sister-in-law of Dora Albano; sister-in-law of Yolanda Semproni; sister-in-law of Norma Paulli, and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews.

Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Lena Albano; her in-laws, Paul and Josephine Paulli; her sister, Lucia Albano; her brother, Fred Albano; her brother, Ted Albano (and Anita); her brother-in-law, Michael Paulli (and Joan); her brother-in-law, Eugene Paulli; and her brother-in-law, Socrates Semproni.

To her family, friends, neighbors, prayer group members, and fellow parishioners, Mary Lou was known to be a woman of profound faith and keen intellect.  She had a potpourri of interests: from reading Flannery O’Connor to cooking the perfect risotto con gamberetti, from Puccini to Scrabble, from birdwatching to painting, from sitting on the Rhode Island shore to Facetiming with family in Italy, from international travel to shopping online, from watching Bishop Barron on Word on Fire to watching the PBS series Grantchester.  Most important to Mary Lou, however, was simply sharing and celebrating life with her Paul, her family, and her close friends.

She is missed deeply already.

A Funeral Mass for Mary Lou was held at St. Gerard Church, Fort Oglethorpe, GA on May 10, 2023.  Alongside her “Poppy,” a burial was held on May 11, 2023 at National Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN.

For family and friends in the northeast, on June 15, 2023, at 11 am, there will be a Memorial Mass for Mary Lou at St. Mary of the Angels Chapel on the campus of Siena College, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211.

In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to one of Mary Lou’s favorite charities:  Siena College Albano/Paulli Scholarship, Tunnels to Towers, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Oglethorpe, GA, or Gentiva Hospice of Dalton, GA.