Loria, Mary Joanne (Albaugh)

Mary Joanne (Albaugh) Loria, 60, died peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at home surrounded by family after a 3 ½-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4330 St. Patrick's Dr., Iowa City, with the Rev. Ed Fitzpatrick officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Church, where a parish vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Mary Jo requested that family and friends wear casual attire that show your favorite team.

Mary Jo was born Nov. 23, 1950, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of James and Lucille (Cook) Albaugh. Mary Jo married her husband of 40 years, Joseph Simon Loria, in Iowa City on April 17, 1971. Mary Jo provided in-home day care for 15 years. She then began her 15 years of service with the Iowa City Community School District. Mary Jo was a member of St. Patrick's Parish, Iowa City.

Mary Jo enjoyed following her boys from baseball fields to football fields to basketball courts in all aspects of their lives. She also supported her husband's pursuit of his number one love: officiating. She could be counted on to provide baked goods to any and all entering her home. Her grandchildren had become the center of her world.

Mary Jo's battle with ALS was made much easier by the incredible support and prayers of her family, friends, the MDA-ALS support group, and the staff of Iowa City Hospice.

Mary Jo was a great wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her laugh, sense of humor, and smile will be greatly missed.

Surviving Mary Jo are her husband, Joseph Loria; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jeremy (Jill) Loria of Williamsburg and Adam (Rachel) Loria of Iowa City; five grandchildren, Madeline, Averi, Claire, Kaitlin and Thiessen; four sisters, Carol Anderson of Tipton, Janet (Robbie) Robinson of Cocoa, Fla., Patricia Albaugh of Mechanicsville, Nancy McAtee of Marion; four brothers, John Albaugh of Tipton, Bob and Tom Albaugh of Mechanicsville and Jim (Cindy) Albaugh of Olin; two sisters-in-law, Mary (Steve) Fowler of Iowa City and Carm (Bart) Schuchert of Iowa City; and one brother-in-law, Louis (Carol) Loria. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, Willard and Lucille Albaugh; in-laws, Louis and Frances Loria; niece, Cathy Forbes; and brother-in-law, Avie Anderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or MDA of Eastern Iowa for ALS Research.

Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service.

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