Mary Louise Anzalone

Born September 13, 1917 and passed March 1, 2017, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church at the Mary Culver Home for Visually Impaired Women, Kirkwood, Mo. Mary Louise was born in El Paso, Texas to Andrew Paul Cull and Pomposa Magdalena Cull (nee Chavez).

Mary had two brothers the Reverend John P. Cull S.J. And Francis A, (Val) Cull both of whom preceded her in death in their later years. Eventually, the family settled in Topeka, KS, where Mary lived until she graduated from St. Mary College of Leavenworth, KS. She then moved to St. Louis, MO, to attend St. Louis University in the Masters of Social Work program. Here she met and married Anthony Thomas Anzalone with whom she had Thomas Anthony Anzalone and Frances Louise (Bruce) Logan.

Mary began working in social work in the Division of Family and Children Services and eventually spent a long career with Catholic Charities of St. Louis in the areas of adoption studies and foster children programs. She also spent some time working at St. Louis Union Station for Travelers Aid, at the time when it was a train station, helping stranded and troubled travelers. While her two children were young, Mary worked part-time so she would be able to spend time taking the children and their friends to swim, ride horses, go bicycling, play tennis, ice skate and even to shoot fireworks in the country. She didn’t just watch, Mary was a willing and active participant.

Mary was widowed in 1968, so as a young widow she decided to stay active and live a full life. She had many long lasting friendships and enjoyed people and entertaining.

Mary Louise excelled at cooking, influenced by her Spanish and Irish parents and her Sicilian-born father-in-law who taught her Italian cooking. She related comical times with “Poppi” in the kitchen instructing her in his broken English. Her daughter Fran, and all of her grandchildren have inherited her knack in the kitchen. But Mary still holds the crown for baking cookies, pies, rolls, cakes and her specialty fudge. Everything was always baked from scratch and always enjoyed by her family and guests. For sure a wonderful dinner at Mary’s home was always topped off with dessert!

Since her son lived in Fairfax, VA for many years, Mary would take summer trips there and cook spaghetti and meatballs for a group of Tom’s friends. She also would bring chocolate chip cookies. Tom’s friends were always eager for his mother’s visits.

Mary herself had wanderlust like her father before her. Because her son Tom was an airline pilot, she had travel benefits that allowed her see the world and she didn’t miss much of it. Mary also belonged to the Lewis and Clark society where she studied and traveled the trails of these famous explorers. When she retired, in addition to taking care of her three grandchildren, she volunteered as a docent at the St. Louis Gateway Arch history Museum, she was active in the Mary Queen of Peace Parish ladies club. She made bandages for cancer patients with the Peregrine Society. Mary loved animals and had a dog for a while, but as she traveled too much to own a pet she began working as a pet sitter to enjoy the part-time company of dogs.

Mary had several foreign students who lived at her home over the years which is another example of her quest for knowledge about people, places and things.

She continued her travels as long as she was able and often went on Elderhostel trips and day trips with senior groups in the St. Louis area. Mary was able to stay in her home of 40 years in Glendale Mo., until she was 95 years old. She moved to Glendale after her husband Tony had passed away in 1968. Mary was always fiercely independent and incredibly resourceful and stubborn. She could always figure out the way to get something done she wanted done (and usually she knew the best way).

When Mary was no longer safe to drive a car (age 90), she bought a motorized scooter to maintain her mobility. She could be seen around Glendale heading to church or the beauty shop on her scooter with a tall orange flag on the back.

Mary was fortunate to know her great grandchildren, Chelsea Pullaro, Chase Pullaro, Zachary O’Toole and Phelim (PJ) O’Toole, and Gracie and Joe’s daughter Sophia.

Mary’s inspiration and fascination will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. She truly was one of a kind. Mary Louise was a fearless adventurer who left an impact with her amazing life that lasted almost 100 years.

Her final act of educating was to donate her body to Saint Louis University. We will celebrate Mary Louise Anzalone at a memorial Mass at Mary Queen of Peace church 676 W. Lockwood Blvd. Webster Groves, MO. 63119 on Saturday April 8, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Mary Culver Home for Visually Impaired Women, 221 W. Washington Ave. Kirkwood, MO, 63122 , the Birthright St. Louis, 2525 S. Brentwood Blvd. St. Louis, MO, 63144 or Missouri Right to Life, P.O. Box 651, Jefferson City, MO 65102.