After an
extended illness, Mary Louise Waite (nee Hale), age 81
of Butler, passed away peacefully among dear family and
friends due to complications of pneumonia on January 5,
2012. She will be sadly missed by all her family and
friends throughout the United States and all around the
world.
Born in
Turtlecreek, PA (near Pittsburgh), she was the daughter
of Stephen Hale and Mary Shaver Hale. She graduated from
Edgewood High School in 1948 and then attended Thiel
College in Greenville, PA until 1949. In 1949, she
married Paul N. Waite who had served in the US Army and
was then attending Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.
After graduation at Allegheny, Paul obtained a master's
degree in business administration from the Wharton
School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia. They then moved back to Pittsburgh where
Mary Lou worked as a secretary before starting a family.
From 1954 to 1964, Mary Lou and Paul became the parents
of six daughters. In addition, Mary Lou worked side by
side with her husband to get him started in the
restaurant and real estate holdings business. After Paul
died in 1981, Mary Lou continued in the restaurant and
real estate investments that Paul had started along with
a business partner, William Morrow, of La Quinta, CA,
who also graduated from Allegheny.
An avid golfer,
Mary Lou was accepted for the first female full golf
membership at the Butler, PA Country Club, where she
played for over 20 years. As a partner, she also helped
found the Quarry golf course in La Quinta, CA, and a
golf course in Branson, MO, as well as in Doonbeg,
Ireland. Always interested in being a pilot, she started
flying lessons in 1975 at Zelienople, PA airport and
then proceeded to become an FAA Certified Flight
Instructor pilot. She taught flying for over 20 years as
well as piloting many of her family and friends on
flying trips and vacations, particularly to Hilton Head,
SC and Ocala, FL. As a member of the 99's Women Pilots
Organization, started by Amelia Earhart, Mary Lou
participated in many air races across the US and even
into the Caribbean. A very experienced pilot, she flew
several search and rescue missions for the Civil Air
Patrol in Butler, PA. She was also on the Board of
Trustees of Allegheny College as well as the national
Council of Women in Aviation. In 1997, she was presented
the Amelia Earhart Award for Pioneering Achievement,
Demonstrated Courage, Unusual Talent, and Dedication to
Thiel College. When her children were growing up, Mary
Lou and all the family spent most of their summers at
Conneaut Lake, PA where they swam, boated, sailed and
water-skied. The family still maintains a summer cottage
at Conneaut Lake that is enjoyed by the daughters' and
grandchildren's families and friends.
Passing on
before Mary Lou were her mother and father as well as
her only brother, William Hale. Mary Lou is survived by
her husband, Leo Janssens, also a pilot, whom she
married in 2001. Mary Lou and Leo traveled extensively
around the US in their own airplane and have traveled to
Europe several times for Leo's involvement in the
Society of Experimental Test Pilot's conventions. Also
surviving are her six daughters: Sandi Stupiansky
(Nicholas) of Mayville, NY; Lesley Andrezjewski (Max) of
Pittsburgh; Stephanie Vater (Daniel) of Wexford, PA;
Paula Sandherr (James) of Cranberry Township, PA; Aura
Cavanaugh of Superior, CO; and Terry Bilecky (Jeffrey)
of Superior, CO. Leo has a daughter, Joy Gerogakas
(Chris) of Dayton, OH and a son, John Janssens (Brigette)
of Perrysburg, OH. Mary Lou is also survived by 21
grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. One
grandchild, Jacob Andrezjewski, passed away in 2006.
During her
lifetime, Mary Lou was also very involved in many
charitable organizations and causes. She was a member of
the Nixon United Methodist Church for over 30 years.
Mary Lou always found time to volunteer for activities
in the church and her flying organizations.
A memorial
service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 9,
2012 at Nixon United Methodist Church with luncheon to
follow. Family will receive visitors on Sunday, January
8, 2012 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. also at Nixon United
Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may
be made to the Nixon United Methodist Church, 334
Airport Road, Butler, PA 16002. Contributions will be
used for ministry to needy families as well as for other
charitable works of the church. Contributions can also
be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (in honor of
her great granddaughter, Amelia), the Lighthouse
Foundation, or the Brother's Brother Foundation.
