Mary Louise (Chiorazzo) Ervin

Mary Lou Ervin Obituary

It is with profound sorrow that we announce, Mary Louise “Mary Lou/Super MiMi” Ervin (Chiorazzo) of Penn Hills, aged 83, peacefully closed her chapter in this life on March 19, 2025, transitioning to a heavenly next chapter. The world will never be the same, but it was a better place for having her in it.

Some life stories consist of great adventures in travels, notable discoveries, creating works of art or literature. Others define its leading man or woman as a hero due to their chosen profession, like that of a firefighter or in the medical field. And then there are those who quietly but thoughtfully leave a lasting impression just by being. While Mary Lou’s life contributions may not be written about in history books, she has unconditionally and irrevocably (often unknown to her) made a difference to those she encountered in her nearly 84 years on earth. 

On May 16, 1941, she was born in the Morningside area of Pittsburgh PA. Her mother, Lillian was a homemaker, and her Italian immigrant father (who earned his citizenship via serving in WWI for the U.S.) Philip, worked for the city and then as a barber. Siblings, a brother Philip “Sonny”, and a baby sister Patty, followed in 1944 and 1948 respectively. Mary Lou attended all girls Sacred Heart Catholic School (now Oakland Catholic) from grade school through high school, matriculating in 1959. In what seems to be typical of the era, she had a strong desire to get married and start a family. After a long-time relationship ended right before graduating high school, she and her gal pals formed a strong bond and support system (the original girl squad long before Taylor Swifts’ girlfriend gang) in the form of a card club. Their bond has lasted through decades of marriages, births, families, jobs, and deaths.

Always having a head for numbers, she began work for a small family-owned company as their bookkeeper.  In July of ‘59, a 20-year-old young man name Bill Ervin entered her life. On his way to see his sister who had just delivered his second nephew, Bill walked by the porch where Mary Lou and her best friend Fran were relaxing after a game of tennis. He and Fran had gone to high school together, so they chatted.  After that day, he would often stop and chat when he saw them.  Eventually Bill asked Mary Lou out on a date. He would do this a total of nine times before she said yes. By the fall they were exclusive. Christmas 1962 they got engaged and on Labor Day 1963, they married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the Blessed Virgin Chapel. The chapel was within the cathedral style church, and they felt it was more intimate, than the grandness of the cathedral.

Mary Lou and Bill began their family a year after marriage. A son in ’64 and a daughter in ’67. After a move from the city to the suburbs (Penn Hills), another son in ’71. She chose to be a stay-at-home mother and homemaker in their Penn Hills residence, a job in which she excelled. In the 80s she went back to work as a Liquor Checker at the Holiday House, then worked in the Penn Hills shopping center at department store Gold Circle and stayed with it when it changed to Hills, and then to Ames.

Shortly after her last son’s birth, she began coughing. It was very random, but noticeable.  Other than this cough, Mary Lou was healthy. She often mentioned it to her doctors, but it was always shrugged off. It wasn’t until the late aughts it was discovered she had Pulmonary Fibrosis. On her birthday in May 2015, she was accepted to be put on the transplant list for a new lung. And by the grace of God, on August 3, 2015, she received the miracle of a new lung. Mary Lou’s transplant journey was documented on social media where she earned the title of “Super MiMi”. Initially the moniker was garnered due to her being the MiMi of grand dog Super Cooper, but in her effort to thrive and survive she owned it in her own right. Lung transplants generally only have a prognosis of lasting 5 years at best.  And many go into rejection before that time.  But Mary Lou, the Super MiMi, was this amazing anomaly as she never rejected, and this year would make her 10th lungaversary. Unfortunately for all organ transplants, the anti-rejection meds nearly always cause forms of skin cancer.  One needs to be checked often and generally a Mohs surgeon is needed. Mary Lou had many such skin cancer removals. But in November 2024, skin cancer on her right hand was deep. It quickly moved to her lymph nodes. Radiation began in January 2025, and surgery of lymph node removal followed. She discovered a lump on her neck in February 2025, and scans showed she had tumors in her good lung. It was stage 4. The cancer was fast and aggressive. The oncologists said that this type of cancer generally does not spread like this. Apparently, she was keeping with her status of being a medical enigma. The cancer took this beautiful soul.

Mary Lou was kind to all and saw the good in everyone. She always stood up for the underdog and gave people the benefit of the doubt (even when not deserved). She would pray for anyone in need of prayers; her prayer list had become so long, but she was diligent in saying them. She loved a good laugh and had a great sense of humor. She loved life and always said she didn’t want to pass because she was too nosey and wanted to be a part of things. She fiercely loved her family and was proud of them, and the feeling was mutual.

She is preceded in death by her father Philip Chiorazzo and mother Lillian Bernice Chiorazzo (Kingan). Survivors include her husband William C. Ervin Sr. of Penn Hills, her three children, son William C. Ervin Jr of Plum, daughter Deborah L. Ervin of Chicago, and son Christopher A. (Jennifer) Ervin of Irwin, four grandchildren Samantha (Ben) Kastriba, Billy Ervin, Abigail (Bobby) Kennedy, Isabella Ervin and 3 great-grandchildren: Addison and Jaxon Kennedy and Elijah Kastriba, brother Philip “Sonny” Chiorazzo, sister Patricia (Ronald) Garda, sister-in-law Gladys Bevilacqua (Ervin), several nieces and nephews, grand dogs and cats, and her beloved grand dog Super Cooper, who laid closed to her in her hospice bed.

Family and Friends will be received from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm on Sunday March 23, 2025, at Findlay C. Wylie Funeral Home, 11311 Frankstown Rd. Penn Hills, PA 15235

Mass held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish (St. Susanna Church, 200 Stotler Rd, Penn Hills).

Entombment will follow Mass at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Lou’s family would like you to consider donating in her name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://secure.qgiv.com/for/pulfibfou/

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