Louise I. Yerage

Louise I. Pizzitola Yerage died Sunday, February 8, 2009 of causes incident to age, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 14, 1919 in New Castle, Pennsylvania to the late Vito and Josephine (Giordano-Fornataro) Pizzitola. Louise married James A. Yerage on August 9, 1943 in New Castle, Pennsylvania,while he was on leave from the U.S. Army and stationed in Alaska. In 1944 he was transferred to Ogden, where Louise joined him. After the war ended, the two began making their
place within the Ogden community. Louise was best known for her cooking abilities. She was a woman of many talents and worked tirelessly to support her family throughout the Ogden community. She played an instrumental role in her husband's shoe business, Jimmie's Shoes, located in Roy and Ogden, before starting to fulfill her culinary dreams by assisting her sister-in-law, Vera Brown Hiatt, in developing and managing the
Weber State College cafeteria for several years while continuing to raise her family.
Later on, she had the great fortune to assist her close friend, Carm Durbano, with Paisano's Restaurant, founded in the late 1960's by Carm's son Ernest Durbano. A few years later, Louise (with guidance from Carm) helped her own son open the Italian Garden restaurant, located in Roy, and she became known as "Mama Louise." She loved sharing her authentic "Old World" Italian family recipes with friends and strangers alike, and had the chance once again when she helped other family members open Moutzi's Cafe in downtown Ogden in the early 1990's.

Known throughout her life for both her warmth and style, she was a loving mother and treasured having her family together. Louise is survived by her son, Ron and his wife, Rebecca, of Clearfield, UT; daughter, Bonnie and her husband, Bob Stratton, of Ogden, UT; son, Jim and his wife, Karla, of Ogden, UT; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and her sister, Lucy A. Pizzitola DeCaprio of New Castle, PA.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by one son, James Yerage, one sister, Ida Ross, and two brothers, Joseph and Phillip Pizzitola.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Mountain Ridge Assisted Living, Manor Care Nursing Home, and Hospice For Utah, for their assistance.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, February 14, 2009 at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Ogden, UT. Burial will be in Lindquist's Washington Heights Memorial Park, in Odgen, UT. Funeral arrangements are by Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary.