Maria Luisa (Lopez) Moore

Maria Luisa Moore (née Lopez), 96, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on June 29, 2018.  She was a devoted wife for over 55 years to her beloved late husband, C. W. ("Wes") Moore, and a loving, affectionate mother to her six children.  A true South American beauty, Maria Luisa was born in Balcarce, Argentina, the second of five children born to Maria del Carmen Lopez and Cipriano Lopez, who had both emigrated from Spain.  She was educated in Catholic schools and besides her studies, she also excelled at all types of needle work.  But her real love from an early age was the piano.  Classically trained, she began winning medals and earning certificates by the age of 12 for playing pieces by Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart.  She continued to play her piano almost every day and over the years often entertained family and friends with her beautiful playing.   

She met her future husband, Wes, in Argentina.  An experienced pilot, he had been sent down to Argentina by Bell Helicopter to train other pilots.  A mutual friend introduced them and a courtship began.  Following his return to the United States, the pair maintained a long-distance correspondence for over a year before deciding to wed.  She traveled to the United States, her first time leaving her country, and the couple were married in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1949.  Later, the couple and their children moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania in the summer of 1967.  

In addition to raising her six children, she was a life-long gardener and lover of nature.  She worked tirelessly in her beautiful flower gardens.  She was also a wonderful cook, having been taught Argentinian and Spanish cuisine by her mother.  Besides Spanish, her native language, she also taught herself to speak, read and write English and was conversant in French.  She was an avid reader throughout her life and enjoyed historical non-fiction.  She also traveled extensively with her husband to Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, and throughout South America and Europe.  She was a deeply religious person and a devoted Catholic, attending St. Agnes Church in West Chester for over fifty years.   

She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, wonderful laugh and sense of humor, and her unceasing devotion to her family and friends.  

She is survived by her six children, Wes Moore, Carmen Browne (Spencer, late), Richard Moore (Barbara), Maria Ines ("Nena") Lambert (Don), Philip Moore (Jan), and Lisa Moore, as well as her 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her two sisters, Emilia Azcarate and Maria Ines Estoup, six nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Oscar C. Lopez, and her sister, Carmen Francisca ("Sonia") Lopez.  

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 am on Thursday July 5, 2018 at the St. Agnes Church, 233 West Gay Street West Chester, PA 19380. Visitation will be at the church from 9 to 10am. Following the Mass, internment will be at the Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery, in West Chester.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Agnes Church at the above address.