Our beautiful mother, Allyson Marie Serio Nola, is no longer with us on this earth. Her unexpected passing at the age of 68 has brought such sadness to all who knew her, especially those that called her Ma Maw, Nanny and Mama Al. She has cherished my brother, my sister, and me since the day we were born. Never was there a day in our lives when we questioned her love for us. Never was there a day when we felt like a burden to her. Never was there a day when we did not feel like the pride and joy of her life. Mom was a stay-at-home mother all of our lives. As children we always knew that someone was caring for our home, cooking dinner, and waiting for us with an after school snack. She volunteered at our schools throughout our childhoods and supported every activity we were a part of. We cannot begin to count the sacrifices she made to ensure we could have all that we needed. Despite the financial difficulty, Mom and Dad sent us to Christian schools which helped shape our character and faith. Mom was born on July 11, 1954, in New Roads, Louisiana. Her father was serving in the Air Force and stationed in the Philippine Islands when she was born. He wrote to our grandmother and told her to name their baby Allyson. He met her when she was 18 months old. Mom had a storybook childhood filled with so many wonderful memories. She would often share with us about her loving grandparents, aunts and uncles. Some things that stand out in my mind: Sundays spent in Morganza at her grandparents’ home, her Aunt Annie’s cakes, the playhouse her Uncle Charlie built for her, and her “cool” Aunt Carol who would take her riding in her new car to look for cute boys. Mom had the most beautiful smile in the world. She loved Christmas. Every December her home looked like the North Pole. She was over the moon each time a grandchild was born and made each of them feel special. Every one of them would run up to her when they saw her, and they would cry when they had to leave her. She had a way of making you feel loved and cherished. She was an extremely generous person who gave her family everything she could. She demonstrated the love of Christ in the way she loved her family and gave generously to others. Last year Mom lost both of her parents and our Dad within 6 weeks. She did her best to live through the pain and sadness, and it was greater than we could imagine. In this world we have tribulation, but the Lord tells us to take joy because He has overcome this world. Her physical and emotional pain is now gone, and we take great comfort in that. It is hard to believe that LSU sports will go on without her, and that we will never eat her spaghetti and meatballs again. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, believing we will be with her for eternity. Mom is survived by her children Natalie Thompson (Preston), Haylie Smith (Brad), and Jacob Nola (Megan); her 8 grandchildren Daniel, Anna and Nicholas Thompson, Loclon, Allyson (Ally) and Annie Smith, Emmalise (Emma) and Gabriella (Ella) Nola, and her step grandson, Jonah Carubba; her brothers Lee Serio (Gretchen) and Lynn Serio (Karen); many cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, aunts and uncles. She is preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Daniel Thomas Nola; her parents Rudolph (Rudy) and Betty Jo Scarborough Serio; her precious sister Lori Elizabeth Serio; her grandparents whom she adored; many beloved aunts and uncles. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst East on Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 4-8pm (11000 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70815). Visitation will continue on Friday, September 2, from 10:30-11:30am at St. George Catholic Church. A funeral mass will follow at 11:30am. Mom will be buried next to Dad at St. George cemetery. Pallbearers will be Daniel Thompson (grandson), Tyler Serio (nephew), Joshua Serio (nephew), Jude Serio (godson), Zachary Serio (nephew) and Kyle McNamee (cousin). Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons Nicholas Thompson, Loclon Smith and Jonah Carubba. We welcome donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as an expression of sympathy instead of flowers. St. Jude was dear to our mother’s heart. A very special thank you to Mrs. Holly Vidrine, Mom and Dad’s neighbor of 30 years, who took such wonderful care of our mother after our dad’s passing.
