Maria Gatz Fleming's Obituary
Maria Gatz Fleming a native of Long Island New York, but a Floridian at heart, passed away on Wednesday April 1, 2020. She will be missed by all who knew her. She was the loving mother of Tanja Beahn and Anne Marie Coats-Gatz and the beloved wife of Don Fleming.
She was born in Germany to Clementine Szozda Figurny, Mother and Josef Figurny, Father. She arrived in the US through Ellis Island and became a proud citizen of the USA in the 1980's. She was the oldest of five siblings including Jane Frey, John Figurny, Walter Figurny, and Margie Bodkin. She spent most of her youth and adult life on Long Island, New York. Her family eventually settled in Riverhead, New York. She had very fond memories of her time spent at Riverhead Polish Hall, where she worked, danced and listened to Polka music. She raised her daughters, along with her first husband Joseph Gatz, in the small north shore village of Wading River, NY. Maria loved the beach and spent nearly every Summer at Wading River Beach with her daughters and many friends.
While her daughters were still at home, Maria enjoyed working as a secretary at the Shoreham Wading River Middle School and eventually at Brookhaven National Laboratory. She continued her career in Florida in the Charlotte County Public School District Office. Maria loved working with children and enjoyed the time she spent working at schools and engaging with students. She often said she always wanted to be a teacher and in many ways she was a great teacher to those around her. She officially retired about 8 years ago to enjoy the Florida sunshine and spending time with her husband, Don Fleming. She was a member of San Antonio Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, FL.
Maria found joy in her family, friends and talking to anyone whom she may have met along the way. She loved the warm weather in Florida and her pastimes, when not shopping, included playing tennis, golf and sailing with her husband Don. She loved a good bargain and was often considered the best dressed in the office. She was always busy and kept an ongoing to-do list, loved to cook for family, had a lot of pride in her home, enjoyed working in the yard, and mowing her own lawn well into retirement. She loved to document events through photographs, as evidence by the many family photos she surrounded herself with. She was always available to lend an ear or offer advice on the latest home improvement ideas. She was not afraid of hard work and always put in that extra elbow grease required to get a project across the finish line. She delighted in her grandchildren - Thomas, William, Logan and Leza, the children of Tanja and Tom Beahn; Roxie and Kit, the children of Anne Marie and Chriss Coats-Gatz.
Many will remember Maria as someone who was always kind, smiling and happy to chat away.
A memorial service will be held at a future date to celebrate her life. Those who wish to make a gift in Maria's memory can donate to:
Live Streaming of her graveside service from Royal Palm Memorial Gardens in Punta Gorda, FL: Tuesday, April 7th at 1 pm ET.
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