Louise G. (Dioda) May

Louise G. May, age 91, of North Fayette Township, Imperial, PA, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024.  Louise was born on February 23, 1933, daughter to the late Elda (Lorandini) and Robert Dioda, immigrants from the Tyrolean region of Italy.  She was married for 65 years to the love of her life, the late Earl K. May, who passed away on October 24, 2022.  Louise is survived by her five children:  Robert (Linda) May, Teresa (James) Murray, and Elaine Gallagher (Guy Trulli), who she had 11 months apart, followed by James (Lorie) May, then had her youngest daughter, Rebecca (Jason) Hood, at the age of 40.  Louise was known affectionately as Grandma, Yaya, Weezy, or Mimi to her eleven grandchildren: Melissa (Paul) Dale, Sean (Anu) Hollis, Dane (Takisha) Hollis, Megan Gallagher, Derek (Brett) Gallagher, Tabitha May, Jamison May, Logan May, Vivienne Hood, Juliet Hood, and Lola Hood, and ten great-grandchildren.  Louise is also preceded in death by her sister, Pauline Tkatch.

Louise was the class Valedictorian at St. Veronica High School in Ambridge, PA, and worked in her early years at HH Robinson then ARCO Chemical where she was a chemist.  While at ARCO, she received an award for inventing a gripping device that was then patented, and this is where she met her husband, Earl.  After raising her five children, Louise worked at Gimbels in Beaver Valley Mall for several years and then Mellon Bank in Sewickley.

In her free time, Louise enjoyed correcting grammar, baking (and hiding) cookies, playing cards, volunteering at church with the Christian Mothers, singing in the church choir at both St. Francis Cabrini and later, St. Columbkille, eating good yet lightly seasoned food, and traveling with Earl.  They went on several cruises and toured Europe together.  Louise had exquisite taste in clothing and loved to wear her signature leopard prints.

Louise’s favorite pastime was spending time with her loving family:  her five children, eleven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.  Rest in peace, Louise.

Family to receive friends on Monday, August 26, 2024, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., at HERRICK COMPASSIONATE FUNERAL SERVICE, PC, Edward M. Herrick, Supervisor/Owner, 951 Cliff Mine Road, North Fayette Township, Imperial, PA, 724-695-7332.  A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columbkille Church, St. Isidore the Farmer Parish, Imperial, PA, followed by burial at 12:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Louise G. (Dioda) May, please visit our floral store.