Mary Lou Zdanovich

Mary Lou Shiel Zdanovich, age 89, born in Boston, bred in Brookline, and retired in Brewster, passed away peacefully on September 21st. She was the beloved wife of Joseph M. Zdanovich and the cherished mother of eight children Michael, Serge, Darcia, Nadine, Alicia, Victoria, Tanya (deceased), and Alexandra, and grandmother of twelve, Alexander, Andrew, Beatrice, Oliver, Sofia, Kimberly, Joseph, Emily, Michael, Benjamin, Nicholas, and Lucy.

Mary Lou attended St Mary’s High School in Brookline, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in education from Framingham State Teacher’s College. She married Joe in 1954 during Hurricane Edna. Joe was one of her brother's friends at Boston College at that time. Joe said that it was love at first sight.

Mary Lou loved the performing arts and brought her children to the Brookline Arts Center, and to local plays and concerts. She loved doing craft projects at home, including quilting. decorative painting, and decorating her home.

In 1965, she and Joe took the family to see a host of national parks, including Yellowstone and Shenandoah, in their newly acquired camper. They continued camping up in Maine and New Hampshire during the summers that followed and subsequently joined the Appalachian Mountain Club, where they attended August Camp for many years.

She was an avid international traveler, having visited her parent’s native Ireland several times, traveling to Russia with a choir group ,and going on the Trans-Siberian Express across Russia. She was able to attend her son’s wedding in Japan, and she visited another daughter in England and France. She also traveled throughout the United States with her husband on Elder Hostels trips, cumulatively to over 50 destinations, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Arriving in Brewster, and being a very sociable person, Mary Lou made many friends in the local community. She and her husband regularly attended Our Lady of the Cape Church, and she became a member of the church's Lady’s Guild. She also volunteered at the Brewster Swap Shop and was a member of the Polish Club. Mary Lou and Joe frequented Council on Aging events and could be found there many days during the week. . Mary Lou was the "grande dame" and matriarch of her family, and was always happy to give advice. She loved conversation, flowers and food, and hosted several Russian Orthodox Easter parties when living in Brookline.

A Funeral Mass will be held this Friday, September 24th at Our Lady of the Cape, 468 Stony Brook Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 at 11AM. Burial at Massachusetts National Cemetery will be private.

For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.