Marie Louise Gianini, who spent years entertaining troops throughout the Midwest with her sister and the USO, died Friday (Nov. 6, 2009) at St. Peters Manor Care Center.

Mrs. Gianini, 85, and her sister, Theresa Frisby, appeared as the Avon Sisters in World War II. Mrs. Gianini's son Chris Gianini of Flint Hill said his mother and aunt appeared in St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Indianapolis and other cities.

"They trooped all around the Midwest entertaining troops with the USO, putting on comedy shows and dance routines," he said.

Chris Gianini said that his mother received a call from President Franklin Roosevelt a few months before his death, thanking her for her work.

Mrs. Gianini's husband of 60 years, Emil A. Gianini, 89, of St. Peters, died in 2003. The couple met when she was just 13 and he was 26, while Emil Gianini was visiting his brother. Emil Gianini's brother had married Mrs. Gianini's aunt.

After Emil Gianini returned to his native Switzerland, Chris Gianini said, "His heart ached. So he came back for her. And he stayed."

The couple married in 1943, when Mrs. Gianini turned 19, a week before Emil Gianini shipped out with the U.S. Army.

The couple were longtime residents of unincorporated north St. Louis County, and moved to St. Peters several years before Emil Gianini died.

Mrs. Gianini grew up in Berkeley, from which she had to take five buses and street cars to attend Rosati-Kain High School, her son said.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Buchholz Math Hermann Mortuary, 837 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in St. Peters.

Among the survivors, in addition to her son Chris, are three other sons, David Gianini of Marthasville, Emil Gianini of Eolia and John Gianini of Florissant; a sister, Theresa Frisby; a brother, Mark Newbold; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.