Mary Louise Munnerlyn

Mary Louise Munnerlyn was born on September 9, 1931 in Erie County in the state of New York to Lillian May (nee Manns) and Albert J Thibault. After high school, Mary Lou graduated from Rosary Hill College (Amherst, New York) and joined the Stella Niagara Seminary (Stella Niagara, New York), entering a life of service and sisterhood as a Franciscan nun. She spent the next twenty years in service to God and man, earning a Masters of Education. Posted to convent houses throughout the eastern United States, many in urban areas, she served the underserved. After the Second Vatican Council, she left clerical service in 1973 to make a new life. Over the next twenty years, she would work in department stores, restaurants, as a substitute teacher and tutor, until retiring in 1992 to travel the world with her husband Albert. Mary Lou married Albert Clay Munnerlyn on July 10, 1978. They made their home in Cleveland Ohio and she became Mom to Rachel Ann, Nancy Natsu, Elizabeth and Clay Ichiro. She was Grandma to Michelle and Brian Manson, Naomi, Elizabeth, Lillian and Alijah Dillard, Guy Emmons, Rachel, Midori and Ethan Munnerlyn and a host of step-grandchildren, cousins and neighborhood children throughout her life. Mary Lou was Albert’s devoted Companion and caregiver until his death in 2011. They traveled across the United States and the world in a camper to Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and France and made lifelong friends and memories. Mary Lou sang in choirs throughout her life. She possessed a magical and singular voice. She proudly owned an original album by Mahalia Jackson, her favorite gospel singer, visited her memorial and played her songs daily. Mary Lou performed in an amateur production of Carmen and a citywide production of The Halleluiah Chorus in Cleveland. She studied tap dancing with grandson Guy and Yoga with daughter Nancy. Throughout her life, Mary Lou put God first. She was a lifelong devotee and servant to the Catholic Church and its teachings. She visited a church at every stop along her life’s journey. She attended St. Dominic Church and continued bible studies through the end of her life. Her most recent church family was Holy Rosary & St. John, Columbus Ohio. She was inducted as an Associate to the Franciscan Sister's and over the years, she sang in the choir, worked in the food pantry and was an active member of the congregation. Mary Lou is predeceased by her mother and father and brother Robert Thibault. She is survived by her sister-in-law Marlene and niece Monique Danielle Thibault. On Monday, October 5, 2020, Mary Lou peacefully completed the cycle of life, in the arms of daughter Elizabeth: leaving to cherish her memory her loving daughters, Rachel Ann (David L) Manson, Nancy Natsu (Furman A) Dillard, and Elizabeth Emmons: son Clay Ichiro Munnerlyn (Stephanie): Aunt Constance Lucas: a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, one niece, cousins, including special cousin Veda Norris White; sister-in-law, Marlene Thibault; other relatives, the congregations of St. Dominic and Holy Rosary & St. John and many friends. The family thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and prayers. The family requests that friends and family post brief personal remembrances to the Diehl-Whittaker website. We ask you not to visit the family home or send any perishables items. Instead of flowers, please make donation to Holy Rosary & St. John in her name. Thank you all and God Bless.