Mary Lou Petralia, 84, of Lake Forest, died July 18, 2013 with her family by her side. She was born in 1928 in Ogden, Utah to the late Louis and Mary Griffin. She graduated from Ogden High School and received a BA from the University of Utah. She married the late Sam Petralia in 1952 and they lived in Salt Lake City, Utah before relocating to Lake Forest (then El Toro) in 1965, the town she would call home for the rest of her life.

Mary Lou taught 2nd grade at Olivewood Elementary School, in Lake Forest, where she was always the most popular teacher and where the love her students had for her was always returned.

Mary is survived by her sister, Carolyn Griffin of Las Vegas, NV, and by her five children: Susan Henderson of Marshfield, MA; Janet Stryker of Corona; Lori Belfy of Lake Forest; Steven Phillip Petralia of Lake Forest; and Mary Gonter of Mission Viejo. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and Pepper Petralia, the famous cockapoo.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you take a dog on a leisurely walk, hug a grandchild, or linger over a hot cup of coffee while reading the morning paper.