Mary Lou (Griswold) Ricaurte

Mary Lou Ricaurte passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on May 9, 2023, in Boca Raton, FL.  Mary Lou was born in Conneaut, Ohio on October 13, 1937 to Mary Ruth (Pfister) and Leigh Griswold.  She enjoyed a wonderful childhood, growing up in a loving home with her four siblings.  She attended St. Mary's School and Conneaut High School and later worked for Conneaut Rubber & Plastics.   

Mary Lou met the love of her life, Alberto Ricaurte, one summer beach day at Lake Erie in Conneaut.  They married in 1964 and had a joyous family life with their four darling daughters. After marriage they lived in Conneaut, later moving to Illinois, New Jersey, Ecuador, back to Ohio and finally Boca Raton, FL.  It was in Ecuador where Mary Lou learned Spanish and became bilingual.  In her later years, she worked in the health insurance industry for Tenet Health as a Supervisor of Claims.  

The center of Mary Lou's life was her faith and her love of family.  She was a member of St Lucy's Church and a devout worshipper throughout her entire life.  She always believed that with God all things were possible.  Mary Lou was always considerate, giving and kind to everyone.   

Mary Lou was passionate about gardening, her home and anything related to nature.  She took great pleasure in caring for the many plants in her garden, as well as the birds and butterflies.  Baking holiday cookies was one of her favorite traditions.  Yearly visits to Conneaut brought her so much joy, where she loved the lake and the lighthouse where her grandfather had previously served for years as lighthouse keeper.   

Survivors include her husband Alberto Ricaurte with whom she celebrated 59 years of marriage on April 4, daughters Janice Marie Talmage (Richard Zeph), Adriana Patricia Ruiz (Jose), Monica Ana Ricaurte, Julia Carole Emmerich (Volker), grandson Brian Leigh Talmage (Jessica) and granddaughter Julia Evonne Emmerich.  She is also survived by her brother John Leigh Griswold and sister Sr. Carole Anne Griswold, HMI, sisters-in law Veronica (Sally) Griswold and Patricia Griswold, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews, and relatives by marriage who she adored.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Leigh Griswold, brothers Edward and Charles Griswold, sister-in-law Marcia Griswold, nephew Patrick J Griswold as well as many beloved relatives by marriage. 

Funeral mass will be 11:00 AM, Friday, June 30, 2023 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 744 Mill St., Conneaut, with Father Philip Miller officiating. Inurnment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. A memorial mass will also be held at St Lucy Catholic Church in Boca Raton, FL.  

Memorial donations in Mary Lou's memory may be made to Salesian Missions www.donate.salesianmissions.org.

The Marcy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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