Mary Louise Gaffney, 89, died peacefully on May 15, 2022, gaining her heavenly reward and reuniting with her beloved husband, Thomas and their son, Shawn.
Mary Lou was born August 15, 1932 to Jerome and Katherine Ringlein in Akron, Ohio. Beginning in childhood and throughout her life, she was endlessly curious and was a voracious reader. At age 12, Mary Lou became enamored with the boy who lived across the street. They fell in love, married, raised a family and were inseparable for 59 years. She was a graduate of St. Vincent High School. After her kids were grown, she rejoined the work force, and eventually got her dream job – working at the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
She was a life-long member of St. Martha (Blessed Trinity) Catholic Church and gave extensively of her time, talent, and treasure to the parish for many years. She was among the diocese’s first female Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and volunteered on numerous committees for the church and school.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Thomas S., her son Shawn, her sisters and brothers-in-law, Catherine and Ralph Schmidt, Patricia and William Haynes, Marjorie and Martin Frahlich, Ron Youmans, and her brother Richard; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law James & Mary Gaffney, Joseph Gaffney; Eileen and Paul Shrader. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Glenn and Laura of Tallmadge; Keith and Patricia of Copley; Kevin and Peggy of Green, Thomas and Margaret of Akron; and Michael and Corina of Hudson; grandchildren, Meghan (Brian) DeMeio of San Antonio, Texas; Molly (Dan) Adair of Willoughby; Caitlin Gaffney & Josie Rey of Lakewood; Elise Gaffney of Johnson City, TN; Cara (Mark) Bacon of Streetsboro; Tessa Gaffney of Akron; Mary (Frank) Czerwien of Stow; Sean Gaffney of Gainesville, Texas; Erin Gaffney of Boston, MA; and Ethan Gaffney of Akron; great grandchildren Isabella, Evelyn and Ellie DeMeio; Thomas, Padric and Braden Adair; Brennan Bacon; Henry Czerwien; and by sister Jacqueline Youmans of Denver, Colorado, and sister-in-law Mary Gaffney of Akron; dozens of nieces and nephews, and scores of friends.
In her senior yearbook, she was described as being “fascinated by the color red.” If you’re able to join us at calling hours or the funeral mass, you’re invited to wear something red in her memory.
Visitation will be at Dunn Quigley Funeral Home, 811 Grant Street, Akron on Thursday from 5 to 8 pm. Mass of the Christian burial will on Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Trinity (St. Martha) Catholic Church, 300 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron. Please meet at the church, there will be no procession. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary Lou’s memory to, Blessed Trinity Parish or The Justin T. Rodgers Hospice Center, 3358 Ridgewood Road, Akron, 44333.