NEWPORT, NH— Mary Lou “Baby” (Rannisto) Cartier, 82, of 3 Maple Manor Way Apt. C, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born in Newport on December 19, 1942, Mary Lou was the daughter of Veikko and Gladys (Mitchell) Rannisto. A proud graduate of Towle High School, Class of 1960, she met her husband while waitressing at the Pines Restaurant.
Mary Lou was devoted to her family. She stayed home during her children’s early years, building a loving home filled with holiday feasts, family traditions, and her famous sense of humor. Later in life, she worked at a variety of local establishments including Pine Tree Castings, Coronis Market, Woodlawn Nursing Home, Eltama Delta Mill, JC Penney, and, in her last job, served as a friendly and familiar face as a parking attendant for the Town of Hanover. Her signature laughter could be heard throughout the town.
But Mary Lou’s story was never confined to a single place. With a deep love for the ocean, she explored coastlines across the world. From the rocky shores of New England to the sun-soaked beaches of the Caribbean and the turquoise waters of the Pacific, Mary Lou chased the allure of the tides. She found joy and peace in ocean breezes, collecting sea glass and memories in equal measure. Whether basking in the sun in coastal Maine or cruising into hidden coves on tropical islands, she embraced each ocean adventure with childlike wonder.
In her later years, Mary Lou added a new thrill to her journey by riding with her sons on their Harley Davidson motorcycles—proof that her sense of adventure never aged.
A natural at finding joy in simple pleasures, Mary Lou adored yard sales, enjoyed gardening, and loved gathering with her classmates and lifelong friends. Her happiest moments were spent surrounded by her family — cooking, laughing, and sharing stories at the beautifully-set table she so loved to host around.
Mary Lou is predeceased by her husband, a daughter, her parents, and siblings Eric, Jean, and Elissa, as well as brothers-in-law Charles, Leon, and Wallace.
She leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience in her three sons: Gregg (Julia) Cartier of Newport, NH; Kirk (Gail) Cartier of North Newport, NH; and Todd Cartier (Kelley Gage) of Grantham, NH. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren: Patrick, Shawn (Corina), Heather (Todd), Aaron (Irena), Dylan (Shirley), Nikayla (Tyler), and Natalie; along with seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Mary Lou is also survived by two loving sisters, Susan Sedita of Baldwin, ME and Loralee Brown of West Rockport, ME, and her brother Alan (Sandy) Rannisto of Newbury, NH, as well as a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Calling hours will be held at Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home, 42 Main Street, Newport, NH, on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport, where she will be laid to rest with love and remembrance.
In honor of her generous spirit, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Mary Lou’s life reminds us all to savor each wave, hold family close, and never stop exploring — by road, by sea, or by heart.
