Mary Lou Casanta
June 18 1936 - March 14 2026
Visitation :
John Quint Treboni Funeral Home
Monday April 6th 2026 4-7 pm
1177 W. 5th Avenue
Columbus Ohio 43212
Services:
Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday April 7th 2026 at 10:00 am
St. Agatha Catholic Church
1860 Northam Road
Columbus
, Ohio 43221-3299
Friends and Family are asked to meet at the Church for Mass
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Obituary
Mary Lou Casanta, a devoted educator, cultural advocate, traveler and cherished member of the Columbus Italian community, passed away March 14, 2026. She leaves behind a legacy of service, creativity, and a deep commitment to preserving the Italian heritage and enriching the lives of her family, friends and students. Mary Lou dedicated more than four decades to education, teaching generations of students through her work at Columbus public schools, St Agatha Catholic School, and later as an adjunct professor of education at Ohio Dominican University. Her passion for learning extended beyond the classroom, as she continually searched for opportunities to mentor, inspire, and expand education to many in the things that she loved. Her detailed stories, excitement, energy and love for travel will never be forgotten. A proud advocate of her Italian American heritage, Mary Lou was a founding force behind United Italian Americans and served as a Central Ohio coordinator for the National Italian American Foundation. Mary Lou served on the founding committee for Ameriflora 92 and also led the Italian American Quincentennial Celebration in 1992. Additionally, she formed and lead the Italian group Sibylla in Columbus which is still active today. She played a pivotal role in celebrating and preserving cultural identity in her community, most notably through her vision and leadership in the creation of the "To Honor the Immigrants" sculpture in Columbus- a lasting tribute to the courage and contributions of immigrant families. Mary Lou's talents and interests extended into the arts, where she was a dedicated supporter of Opera Columbus, the Columbus Symphony, and local theater. She contributed her time and leadership as president of Friends of the Arts in Upper Arlington and was actively involved in dance and theater, helping to establish a ballet academy and sharing her love of performance with others. Mary Lou also participated in and played parts in various movies throughout her life. Her curiosity and global perspective from her travels, led her to participate in international educational initiatives, including work and study abroad, as well as a U.S.-China education conference in Beijing. Mary Lou was a graduate of North High School and went forward in her education path to receive her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education from The Ohio State University and was a proud member of Kappa Delta Pi. Mary Lou will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and commitment to community. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, or through cultural engagements, she brought people together, told amazing stories, filled a room with excitement and left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Mary Lou is survived by her nephew, Scott Rhyan and his daughter Abby Rhyan. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mary (DiPaolo) Casanta; brother, Frank Casanta; and sister, Diane Banks. She leaves behind many loving relatives, cousins and lifelong friendships from so many varied aspects in her life.
Condolences for Mary Lou Casanta
From : dianne hoover
To : Family of Mary Lou
Date: March 19th 2026
Mary Lou is a favorite teacher of many of our St Agatha alums. She encourages us even in her death as her smile and kindness continue to brighten our memories.
From : Kathie Boehm
To : Family of Mary Lou
Date: March 19th 2026
Mary Lou was always positive and upbeat. We shared the love of ballet.She will be sorely missed.
From : Lynne Waggener Price
To : Mary Lou Casanta
Date: March 23rd 2026
Mary Lou was my favorite teacher at St. Agatha!! She made learning 3rd grade material so much fun! I will miss our yearly luncheon with other alum from our class!
From : Julia Fino Redmond
To : Family of Miss Casanta
Date: March 25th 2026
Miss Casanta was my third grade teacher at St. Agatha School. My father lovingly referred to her as “Bubbles!” She was truly a beautiful person inside and out! I’m so sorry for your loss.
From : Molly Donovan Wilkinson
To : Mary Lou
Date: March 26th 2026
Mary Lou…what a glorious person she was! As kind as she was beautiful and I’m sure has left a lasting impression on all those who were lucky enough to know her. I was in her third grade at St. Agatha and I think my class was her first. Oh how we all loved her! I’ve stayed in touch with her throughout all these many years and our annual luncheon with some of our third grade classmates was one we all looked forward to. I’m hoping we can gather once again at DiVinci’s and remember our dear teacher and friend. I will miss her terribly. See you in heaven, Miss C!❤️
From : Susan Matrka
To : Mary Lou Casanta
Date: March 28th 2026
Mary Lou was my third grade teacher at St Agatha and she had recently connected with me through social media. I always enjoyed hearing from her. May her soul rest in peace.
From : Anthony Susi
To : Mary Lou Casanta
Date: March 29th 2026
My deepest sympathy & prayers go out to Mary Lou & family.
From : Gil Rinehart
To : Mary Casanta
Date: March 30th 2026
Ms. Casanta was my 2nd Grade teacher at Clinton Elementary School. She was a blessing and meant so much to me in the years to follow. I stayed in touch with her for decades since I was in 2nd grade. She became a close family friend to us all following being my 2nd grade teacher. God has received an amazing angel and she will always be remembered for her kind and caring soul.
From : Darryl Austin
To : Family
Date: April 2nd 2026
I've been close friends with Frankie for decades, meet mary lou,and gained a life long friendship. ❤️
From : Suzy Duncan
To : The family of MaryLou Casanta
Date: April 7th 2026
My heart is broken upon hearing this. MaryLou was my all time favorite teacher. She was always so patient and kind while getting us little kids to learn. She is forever in my heart ❤️