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Mary Lou Mirino
04/03/2024
Mary Lou Mirino received her glorious body and was welcomed home by Jesus on April 3, 2024. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side. Mary Lou was born to Joseph and Marguerite Smith on May 8, 1944 in Brooklyn, Ny. She had one sibling Patricia (Smith) Kerper.
She grew up in Brooklyn where she eventually met and married the love of her life Phil Mirino. They had two children Marguerite Mirino Hancock and Philip Mirino Jr. In 1974 they relocated to Deland.
Our family lost not only our matriarch, but a devoted mom, Mimi, aunt, and friend.
Mary Lou was a woman who had a great love for Jesus, which was evident through her radiant and reassuring smile. She had a unique way of making everyone she met feel loved, comfortable, and safe. People she didn't even know would talk to her, and before long, they would be telling her their life story. She would always use these opportunities to share the hope and love of Christ.
Our community lost the unsung hero of Mirino's Pizza. While Phil may have been the face of Mirino's, it was actually Mary Lou's idea, persistence, and tenacity to open a restaurant. In 1976 Mirino's was established. Their legacy continues today as their daughter Marguerite and her husband Joel have been running things for the past 10 years
For many years, Mary Lou served on several committee boards as well as voting precincts. She also was an active member of the Volusia County Republican Club.
Her greatest passion, however, was being involved with Right To Life. She made no apologies for fighting to preserve the sanctity of life. She was instrumental in the establishment of several crisis pregnancy centers, the most recent being the Visitation House in Deland.
Mary Lou is survived by her daughter Marguerite Hancock, her husband Joel, son Philip Mirino Jr, and his wife Heather. She is also survived by grandchildren Micah Mirino, Joel Hancock II, Jonah Mirino, Dominick Hancock, and Correna Rodriguez, her husband Roberto and their children Layla, Lily, and Phoenix, as well as nieces and nephews. Marylou is preceded in death by her husband Phil Mirino and her sister Patricia Kerper.
While we will miss her terribly, we find joy in our sorrow, knowing that we will see her again one day.
We choose to focus on the memories of love and laughter and will celebrate her life on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3:30 pm at the First Assembly in Deland.
In honor of Mary Lou's memory, her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Visitation House.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants."
Psalms 116:15