Mary Lou Piazza, 59, RIP

Huckleberries has learned that Mary Lou Piazza, a well-known community booster and wife of County Commissioner Rich Piazza, died Monday night after recurrence of cancer in December. Post Falls Councilwoman Kerri Thoreson, who wrote about Mary Lou’s latest battle with cancer in her weekly Coeur d’Alene Press column last week, said of Mary Lou this morning: “She was a long time breast cancer survivor, very active and inspirational with the cancer groups locally. Sadly cancer returned in early December and she just couldn’t win this battle. Did you know her? She was one of the most upbeat sparkling personalities I knew. She will be missed, it was terribly unexpected and swift.” Mary Lou was first diagnosed with cancer in 1984 and suffered a first recurrence in 1993. Mary Lou and Rich were married at least 40 years.