Mary Lou Petrulio-Conrad

Mary Lou Petrulio-Conrad 87 of Portage passed away peacefully on Thursday January 11, 2024. A loving mother whose greatest treasures were spending time with her family of five daughters, Cari (Bryan) Dings, Jami (Larry) Sandt, Heather (Jackie) Hampton, Dawn (Pat) Lafferty, Sue (Steve) Sima as well as her 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Mary Lou was born August 11, 1936 in Chicago, IL the daughter of Harry and Mary (Lopshire) McCullough. She received her bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan College and taught elementary education in Illinois. She moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1963 where she would raise her five daughters while balancing work, family and fun. She was an avid sports fan and a kind and generous woman who worked tirelessly for Bronson Healthcare for much of her working years. In 1997 she was appointed the Executive Director of the Southwest Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and held many other volunteer positions in the community including the Portage Senior Center, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and Kal-Haven Trail State Park. In 2007, Mary Lou was fortunate to have been united in marriage with a wonderful and caring husband, Lance Conrad who is grieving her loss. Also surviving are her step-children Sherri (John) Vandenhombergh , April (Mark) Whitaker, Christine (Victor) Colon. Her baby sister, Joanne (John) Olson is her only surviving sibling as she was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry and Carl McCullough. There are not enough words to describe the strong, compassionate, loving, giving and caring woman Mary Lou was, it is a great loss and her memories will be cherished forever. In honoring Mary Lou’s wishes, a private celebration of life will take place in the spring at Portage South Cemetery. If you would like to make a contribution in Mary Lou’s name to The Southwest Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association it would be greatly appreciated and you may send your donation to Redmond Funeral Home 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Arrangements by Redmond Funeral Home, Kalamazoo. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net