Mary Louise Lacenere

Mary Louise Lacenere

February 27, 1945 - July 3, 2026

On Friday, July 3, 2026, Mary Louise Paladino Lacenere, 81 years of age, passed away with her three daughters by her side. She was the loving mother of Monica (Timothy) Ware, Marlo (Todd) Lancaster and Marci (David) Clark. Beloved Grandmother to Jessica, Luke and Victoria Ware, Jack and Matilda Lancaster and William, Sabrina and Nathaniel Clark. Preceded in death by her mother and father, Frances and Peter Paladino Sr. and brother Peter Paladino Jr. Mary Lou is survived by siblings Dr. Theodore (Diana) Paladino, Dr. Anne Maria Paladino, sister-in-law Kathryn Paladino (Peter) and loving nieces and nephews.

A lifelong Pittsburgher, Mary Lou was born in the Hill District. She attended St. Peter’s Grade School, where she met lifelong friends. Her family moved to Green Tree in 1956 when she was 11. She attended St. James and St. Luke’s High School and graduated from St. James in 1962. She remained active planning and attending reunions for many years with her cherished classmates.

Mary Lou attended Duquesne University and then completed her undergraduate studies and graduated from Point Park College in 1966. She was a dedicated sorority sister of Alpha Phi Omicron. In 1978, Mary Lou received her Nursing Education Certificate and later received her Master's in School Counseling from University of Pittsburgh in the early 1980’s.

Mary Lou was a nurse at Allegheny General Hospital before stepping away to devote herself to raising her three daughters, Mary Lou returned to the profession she loved as a school nurse with the Keystone Oaks School District. She proudly worked at Aiken, Myrtle, Vernridge, Highland, St. Margaret’s, St. Anne’s and Dormont Elementary Schools where she compassionately cared for children from Castle Shannon, Green Tree and Dormont schools for 30 years.

Upon retirement in 2008, Mary Lou spent time with her grandchildren at home in Pittsburgh as well as tirelessly driving across the state of Pennsylvania to visit her grandchildren in both Connecticut and New Jersey for birthdays, school concerts, holidays, graduations, sporting events, and every milestone in between. Over the years, Mary Lou enjoyed time with siblings, nieces, nephews and friends, volunteered at her local food bank, took daily walks, practiced calligraphy, learned sign language, was a new knitter and developed her Italian language skills on Duolingo.

Mary Lou will be remembered for the warmth of her smile, the compassion she extended to everyone she met, and the unwavering love she gave wholeheartedly to her family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched—as a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, nurse and friend. She will be deeply missed.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Freyvogel-Slater Funeral Directors where family and friends will be received on Wednesday, July 8 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 pm at 112 Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park, 412-835-1860. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas More Church, Resurrection Parish, 126 Fort Couch Road in Bethel Park on Thursday, July 9 at 10:00 am. A Roman Catholic Funeral Burial Service will be held at her gravesite at Calvary Cemetery, 718 Hazelwood Avenue, following the mass.

Please considering making a donation in Mary Lou Lacenere’s name to the American Cancer Society at American Cancer Society.

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