Mary Lou Y. Zanich died on April 18, 2026 at St. Andrews Village. She was born on September 2, 1949 in McKeesport, Pa to Steven J. and Mary C. (Shamber) Zanich. She was predeceased by her sister, Stephanie. She was the granddaughter of Peter and Mary (Radesic) Zanich, immigrants from Croatia, and Habib and Ida Mae (Salem) Shamber, immigrants from Lebanon.
Mary Lou attended McKeeport Area Senior High School (1967) and received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She was the Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she taught for 34 years. Mary Lou was Chair of the Psychology Department for 10 years and saw that as the best job she ever had. She enjoyed teaching (especially General Psychology and the History of Psychology), played an active service role, and worked with some of the finest people she ever knew. Additionally, she served for two years as Interim Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Mary Lou believed in the value of community service. Early in her career, she was active on the boards of the ARC Manor Drug and Alcohol Center (Kittanning, Pa.) and the Indiana (Pa.) Hospice. Following her retirement, she was especially active on the Board of Trustees of the Indiana Free Library where she served as President for seven years. She also served for more than a decade as the President of the IUP Chapter of The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Retired Faculty and served on the board of I&A Residential Services Inc. At various points in her life, she enjoyed needle and hand crafts, playing golf (badly), and reading (aways). Of late, she especially enjoyed her Thursday morning coffee meeting with her similarly-retired psychology department cronies.
Mary Lou is survived by many cousins and by her good friend, Ellen O’Hara (Sanford, Fl.). Throughout her life, she was blessed to have many good friends including the best friend anyone could have, Jean Wilson, who shared both her friendship and her family. She would also note her “oldest” friend of more than 60 years, Chip Purcell, and her later-in-life “newest” friend, Louise Peterman. Lastly, she is survived by Flo Nellie, her cat who came to her late in life but who brought much companionship and comfort.
At her request, there will be no visitation or services. Inurnment will occur at a later date in Oak Ridge Cemetery, South Livonia, NY. Memorial Contributions, if desired, may be made to the Indiana Free Library, 845 Philadelphia St., Indiana Pa. 15701. or to the ICCAP Food Bank or Power Packs programs, 827 Water St. Indiana, Pa. 15701.
Though for the day: from Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, Ch. 14: This is the beginning-from “I” to “We.”
Online condolences may be made by visiting: rbfh.net .
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