Louise Marie Picco-Branney
March 15, 1943 - March 28, 2017

Louise Picco-Branney, 74, of Phoenix, AZ passed away at 1:24 a.m. on March 28, 2017 from her long courageous journey with cancer at the Sherman Home Hospice of the Valley.

Louise was born on March 15, 1943, in Spring Valley, Illinois to Louis S. and Mary (Narczewski) Picco. She married Edward H. Branney on January 10, 2004 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mrs. Picco-Branney had a long career receiving her master degree from Illinois State University in Business and English teaching sophomores and seniors in Henry High School in Illinois. Louise had numerous students who looked up to her and went on to thrive with great confidence from life lessons that expanded well past conjunctive adverbs. One former student Nathan Danbar said "I was so lucky to have an English teacher who encouraged a love of reading, and she was an unfailing champion." "After reconnecting with her I got to tell her how much she meant to me. "I'm very sad we never got to see each other again, but we'll always have Maya Angelou, she'll know what that means." Another student Kathryn (Malavolti) Griewahn said "A great woman!" "SHE was an extremely smart lady." "I will miss her more than I can say." Henry-Senachwine HS and ALL its students are better because of HER." "God bless my friend, Louise."

Louise went on to dive literally into the pool business called S & L Pool and Patio which was known as the Illinois Valley's #1 preferred company to purchase custom pools from. She shared the business with her first husband Scott K. Lehman of Seatonville, Illinois now residing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Louise was very well known throughout the Phoenix area for her countless hours devoted to volunteering to make a difference. She was a big part of a state aid program located downtown Phoenix assisting the homeless community to study and prepare for their GED exams. Some of her greatest pride was when a student would come back in to tell her..... "Hey we did it." She would follow by saying "No, you did it. I was merely your guide." As a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Community Church, Louise was a part of the volunteer employment ministry program. She also was a teaching volunteer/mentor at Vista del Camino for people in her community who were faced with losing their job. She taught a resume class. There too she built confidence and knowledge in her students that resulted in numerous smiles when they became gainfully employed again.

Louise is sadly missed by her Survivors: husband, Edward Branney of Phoenix, AZ, daughter, Mary Lehman of Scottsdale, AZ, brother, Andrew (Bernadette) Picco of Fort Wayne, IN and sister-in-law, Cindy Picco of Middlebury, IN. She will also be missed by numerous nieces, nephews and their spouses residing in Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Christine Lehman-Miller and brother, John L. Picco.

Edward and Mary would like to thank the staff at the Sherman Home Hospice of the Valley for their loving care which they provided with dignity during a very difficult time.

A celebration of the wonderful life of Louise Picco-Branney will be held at Starfire Gold Club on June 17, 2017 in Scottsdale, AZ. The inurnment will take place at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary and Memorial Park's Ossuary on June 19, 2017, Scottsdale, AZ.

Due to Louise's devotion to volunteer work and touching the lives of the homeless community the family would be honored for donations to carry-on her tradition in their own local communities.

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou

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