Mary Lou Borrelli

Mary Lou Borrelli, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt passed away on September 22, 2021, at her home in Knoxville, Tennessee, surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on November 17, 1937, in Richwood, West Virginia, to Goldie and Charlie Hicks. Mary Lou received her undergraduate and master’s degree from West Virginia University in education. She began her long teaching career in Richwood, West Virginia, where she taught high school English. She was the respected cheerleading sponsor for many years. On Sunday mornings, she enjoyed teaching children at First Baptist Church. Mary Lou and family moved to Abingdon, Virginia, where she continued her teaching career at Abingdon Elementary, and then later at Abingdon High School. She was a member of Abingdon Baptist Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir with friends. She loved spending time volunteering at Johnston Memorial Hospital, playing bridge, and entertaining her supper club friends. In 2006, Jerry and Mary Lou moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to be near their son Scott and his family. While in Knoxville, she enjoyed volunteering at the Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Hospitality House. On Monday nights she loved going to Bible Study Fellowship at Central Baptist Church Bearden where she was also a member. Mary Lou loved being with friends, watching sports, and ultimately loved being with her family. She was a wonderful cook and loved spending hours in the kitchen. Some of her specialties were lasagna and eggplant parmesan. She loved making countless jars of spaghetti sauce to give to family and friends. Mary Lou is preceded in death by her father, Charlie Hicks, mother, Goldie Hicks, and sister, Carolyn Hicks Heltzel. She is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Jerry Borrelli, her only son Dr. Scott Borrelli and his wife Amy, and her granddaughters Morgan and Maddie of Knoxville, TN. Also surviving is her brother Joel Hicks and his wife Malinda of Radford, Virginia. She had many nieces and nephews who she adored and loved dearly. Receiving of friends will be held at Rose Funeral and Cremation - Mann, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN on Tuesday, September 28 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will take place immediately after the visitation in the chapel. Graveside service will take place at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, 19415 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, Virginia, on Wednesday Sept. 29, 2021, at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/. Arrangements by Rose Funeral and Cremation – Mann. Online condolences may be made at rosefuneraltn.com.

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Mary Lou Borrelli

November 17, 1937 - September 22, 2021