Marie Louise Boril Colasurdo, three days shy of 92, died Dec. 9 of COVID-19, at her care home in Beaverton. A celebration of life will be held post-pandemic.

Mrs. Colasurdo was born Dec. 12, 1928, to Elizabeth and Louis Boril in a Czech neighborhood of Chicago and grew up above her father’s barbershop with her parents and six siblings. She graduated from Alvernia High School in 1946, attended medical business college, and worked at Loretto Hospital as a medical stenographer. She met the love of her life, Angelo John Colasurdo, and they were married Aug. 18, 1951 in his hometown of Seattle. Marie and John lived in Chicago, Seattle and Spokane, and settled in Portland in 1955.

Mrs. Colasurdo was an extraordinary mother to her nine children. She fostered a love of the arts and advocated natural homemaking practices like line-drying laundry and canning preserves. With her beautiful soprano voice, she sang in the St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher choirs. Her love of music led her to serve as longtime president of the Portland Opera Guild. She loved the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed time spent at the family’s cabin near Mount St. Helens. She was known for her many published letters to The Oregonian and was an active volunteer with all of her children's school activities.

In 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Colasurdo moved to Sauvie Island, where Mrs. Colasurdo started her successful Sauvie Island Bed & Breakfast. Customers raved about her delicious Belgian waffles and warm hospitality. She was also an energetic gardener and grew all kinds of flowers to complement her husband’s vegetable garden. Her faith and good-heartedness were constant throughout her life. She was an active member of St. Thomas More, St. Birgitta, St. John Fisher, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic churches. A loving and generous person, Mrs. Colasurdo had many friends and was loved by her children and grandchildren, who have special memories of their Nona.

She is survived by her sisters Barbara Boril of Oak Park, Illinois, Josephine Lopez of Barrington, Illinois, Anne Macalik of Chicago, and Gerry Bandera of South Bend, Indiana; and her children Celeste Colasurdo, Christine Colasurdo, Marita Ingalsbe, John Colasurdo and Bernie Colasurdo of Portland, Michael Colasurdo of Eugene, and Terese Stassinos of Santa Barbara, California; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her sister Elizabeth Basta, her brother Louis Boril, Jr., her husband Angelo John Colasurdo, her daughters Jeanine Ierulli and Elizabeth Colasurdo, and her grandson John Ierulli.

Mrs. Colasurdo is buried in Riverview Cemetery.

The family is grateful to Loving Home Care and Housecall Providers. Donations in her honor can be made to the Portland Opera Association or All Classical Radio 89.9 FM.