Marie Theresa Surma was born in Ela Township in Lake County, Illinois on a dairy farm on August 13th, 1932.  She was the oldest daughter of John and Marie Surma.  She was the beloved oldest sister of Kathryn, John, David, and Susan, all of whomsurvived.  She died almost one year to the day of her youngest sister, Susan.  Marie was the beloved Aunt of 13 nephews and nieces, and of a growing number of grand-nephews and grand-nieces.  She was a kind- and good-hearted lady who had a fine memory.  She was filled with family lore, and she fell easily into laughter.  In this way, she was like her mother Marie, who also was filled with stories and who also had an easy laugh.  The two Marie’s left Chicago in 1972 and decamped to New Port Richey, for sun, citrus, and a new life in a new ranch home.  There they became fixtures of the community where they shared their lives with friends and neighbors.  Bingo, card games, bowling, Catholic Church, crafts, and family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas with pilgrimages to Chicago, became the rhythm of their new life.  The stream of memories, stories, and laughter never stopped.  When the elder Marie passed in 1995, the younger Marie retired from her service in banking and she enjoyed her long retirement in the company of friends, and with travel.  In 1999, she made a remarkable pilgrimage with her niece, Mary, and a church group to the Holy Land where they followed in the footsteps of Jesus and visited many of the holy sites.  There they sailed in a replica boat similar to one of Jesus’s era on the Sea of Galilee, were baptized anew in the River Jordan, and carried a cross down the Via Dolorosa.  Marie managed to stay in touch with her nephews and nieces through birthday cards and holiday remembrances.  She was a life-long devout Catholic.  She inspired her nieces and nephews by her devotion to the Church, by the love she showed for her family, and by her kindness.  Late in life she had a dog, Sandy, who was very dear to her heart as she must have been dear to Sandy’s heart.  Marie died on April 30th, 2025,with her rosary in hand, and a prayer on her lips.  She was 92 years and 260 days old.