Mary Lou Stresino

Mary Lou Godette Stresino of Speedway, IN died peacefully 1/10/18 after a long illness.  She was born in Chicago, IL in 1931 to Louis Edward Godette and Helen Irene (Howe) Godette.  She had 4 siblings, Eunice Godette, Ed Godette, Bert Godette, and Helen Godette Martin all who preceded her in death.  She graduated from Calumet High School then went on to attend the University of Illinois (where her grandson, Mario later followed).  She graduated from Western Michigan University in 1955 with a degree in Occupational Therapy.  She moved to Indianapolis for her last internship in physical medicine at General Hospital (which became Wishard then Eskenazi Hospital).  Afterwards, she was offered a position there in the psychiatric medicine department.

In 1958, her life changed when she met a young, Italian engineer named Ed Stresino when his Hiking Club held a combined event with Mary Lou’s Biking Club.  They married in 1959 and decided to buy a “starter” house in Speedway, Indiana where they enjoyed living and being involved in their community until their deaths.  They really thought it was going to be temporary because Ed was anticipating his division at Union Carbide moving out of state.  The house turned out to be a really good decision. They had 5 children (Charlie, Jo, Kathy, Pete and Bob) who kept them “fairly” busy with their activities.  The Stresino kids all started their education down the street at Wheeler Elementary and the families of Hickorywood Drive became close friends.  The neighborhood kids often gathered at the Stresino house, and many still comment how Mary Lou seemed to enjoy all the comings and goings through her house. Mary Lou especially delighted in cheering on her son’s sporting (cross country, track  and swimming) and band events and daughter’s Girl Scout meetings and trips where she was often the fearless leader.  While following the activities of her children, Mary Lou also put her heart into working part time and ran an activity program for adults with cerebral palsy at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic and later at Municipal Gardens.  Mary Lou often involved her children in her work, so that her patients, co-workers and volunteers became close friends of the family.

She was not one to stay at home, and neighbors were known to worry if they saw her car in the driveway too long.  She was an active member of St Gabriel Catholic Church where she was quite the prayer warrior.  She could often be found at daily mass and the Coffee Clutch afterwards and coordinated the Senior Citizen group for many years.  She was a long time adorer at St Michael’s Adoration Chapel holding down a Friday night time slot for well over a decade.  At Speedway Public Library she participated in the book discussion, craft group and never missed a bus trip.  For many years she held season tickets at Footlite Musicals with friends.  Mary Lou was a member of many organizations including the Golden Eagles, the Sunday Craft Group, Indianapolis Senior Center, Homemaker’s Club and AARP.  One of her favorite things to bake for meetings and family was banana bread.  She had an active volunteer life including St. Gabriel’s Church, Oasis and tutoring at Indianapolis Public Schools through Oasis, Meals on Wheels, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Speedway Library, the Westside Garden Club, and Le Leche League. Mary Lou was always ready to go just about anywhere with just about anyone!  She enjoyed Elderhostels and traveling to Chicago, across the country and to even Italy to visit family. Between church, club meetings and volunteering, she loved to go grocery shopping.  If we were waiting in the car, we’d take bets on how many bags she’d bring back.

Mary Lou liked everyone, was unfailingly optimistic, honest, easy going, patient, and was most often described as kind.   She was always ready to help anyone in need.  In fact, just last week when she was in the hospital and heard an old friend was just down the hall also sick, Mary Lou tried to stand and loudly claimed, “I’ll help her!”

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Stresino and son, Charlie Stresino.  She is much loved by her surviving children- Jo Cully, Kathy Stresino, Pete Stresino and Bob Stresino, 5 grandchildren, Sam LaRocco, Mario Stresino, Rosie Stresino, Anika Cully and Michael Cully many Godette and Stresino nieces and nephews (and also her dog, Chacha).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Miles for Myeloma (raising funds to find a cure for the blood cancer, Multiple Myeloma), and the Elevator Fund at St Gabriel’s church.