Marylouise Szostek of Scotts, MI, formerly of Portage, MI, Evanston, IL, and Chicago, passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at the age of 86, from Alzheimer’s disease.  She was born in Chicago, on March 23, 1935, to Carl and Josephine (Sepode) Puccio.  She graduated from Ellen Mitchell Elementary School in 1949, and from St. Columbkille High School in 1952. When Marylouise was only six (6) years old, her father was killed in a hit-and-run accident.  She didn’t allow this to prevent her from living a meaningful and rewarding life, however.  Her childhood and adolescent adversities served only to strengthen her resolve and determination to persevere and succeed.  Because she enjoyed helping others, she volunteered at Hull House and Onward Neighborhood House.  She also graduated from Wilbur Wright College with a degree in business and finance.  Marylouise worked at the Clinton E. Frank Advertising Agency, and had an outstanding career in advertising.  In addition, she excelled at styling hair, especially at putting hair into a French twist, and became a licensed beautician, as an outlet for her creativity.  She also worked at Jewel’s Hair Salon, which was rather elegant and exclusive.  In 1960, she married Robert J. “Bob” Szostek, and they resided in Evanston.  When Marylouise and Bob first met, they were both working in downtown Chicago, and happened to take the same bus to work.  In 1965, the Szostek family moved to the Kalamazoo area, where Bob was offered a job as an art director in the international advertising department at the Upjohn Company.

Marylouise enjoyed cooking (especially Italian cooking), arts and crafts, indoor gardening, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, reading magazines, newspapers, and mystery novels, watching game shows, and traveling.  She volunteered at Haverhill Elementary School, helping children with their reading, with the Girl Scouts, helping girls earn their cooking badge, and with the March of Dimes.  She spent so much time helping at the elementary school that people sometimes confused her with the music teacher, Mrs. Frisbie.  Her family was very important to her.  Marylouise loved children and animals, and when the neighborhood children stopped by, she would make them a sandwich or snack.  She also offered children rides home from school.  Marylouise was an excellent cook, and her chocolate chip cookies were outstanding, as was her ability to grow shamrock plants.  She also sewed clothes for her children, which allowed her to indulge her creative side.  In addition, she attended every recital, concert, or play in which her children performed.  She and Bob also enjoyed dining at restaurants, going to movies, and ballroom dancing.  Marylouise enjoyed traveling and meeting new people, and she and her family traveled to Hawaii, Europe, and almost all fifty states.

Later, Marylouise worked at American National Bank, Early Realtors, First Federal Bank, and S.C.O.R.E., the Service Corps of Retired Executives.  She became more involved in arts and crafts, as this allowed her to express her creativity.  She organized several arts and crafts shows, including the Women’s World Arts and Crafts Show at the NSRA (National Street Rod Association), and shows at KVCC (Kalamazoo Valley Community College), and the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.  Marylouise was preceded in death by her father, Carl Puccio, her mother Josephine Puccio Inzerello, her stepfather, Joseph Inzerello, her aunt, Mary Nasello, her brother, John Puccio, and her son-in-law, Lloyd Nobles.  She is survived by her husband, Bob Szostek, her daughters, Renée Szostek and Lisa Nobles, her grandchildren, Emily Nobles and Daniel Nobles, her sister-in-law, Janice Puccio, her niece, Linda Puccio, and her nephew, Carl Puccio