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Mary Fichter Obituary
Feb. 23, 1920 - Nov. 28, 2008
Mary Theresa Fichter, 88, Sarasota, died Nov. 28, 2008.
Services will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. A private interment will take place in the Memorial Garden of St. Thomas More. Toale Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mary was born in Blackburn, England, and lived in Tenafly, N.J., until she moved to Sarasota in 1980.
She was a devoted life member of Sarasota Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She is survived by her husband, Othmar, of 66 years; and her brother, Bernard Ellis, and his wife, Eileen, of Ridgewood, NJ. She is predeceased by a son Roger. She is survived by seven children, Denise Almy, Gerard, Cynthia Westervelt, Nancy and Vick, all of Sarasota; Jeanne Thorpe of New Jersey, and Bruce Fichter of New Hampshire. She was the beloved grandmother to 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy was her faith, her family, her dog Ginger and volunteering.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Fichter
Erik Almy
December 15, 2008
Mere words cannot express my feelings for my Nana. She was the leader and center of the Fichter and Almy family. You could always count on Nana to be there when you needed her the most, all the time with a smile and encouraging words. There will never be another like her. It always amazed me how she was ageless in my 36 years. I will forever cherish the times I spent at her house, and in her company. I will watch Christmas Vacation this year with a heavy heart, but knowing it was one of her favorite movies. She loved those Griswald's! I will also be at peace knowing she is standing with Jesus in Heaven and smiling, watching over all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
Her grandson......
Eileen & Neil Klar
December 13, 2008
It has been years since we have seen Mary but looked forward to her Christmas greeting each year. While Mary and the entire Fichter clan were our landlords for the first 3 years of our married life in Tenafly, NJ, they were really like an extended family. When Daniel was born we had a giving downstairs family always there with love and advice...and baby sitting...all of which were most welcomed. Mary led the way and we will long remember her laugh and love of her family and church. We are saddened to hear of her passing but know that she rests in peace for all of the good that she has done in this life.
Robin Hammontree
December 3, 2008
Vicki, Nancy and Cindy,
I was so saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I only knew of your mother through the stories Vicki told me and she was obviously very well-loved and will be sorely missed.
Robin
Jane, & Jack Driscoll
December 2, 2008
To Mary's Family - we knew you all, although we never met you. Mary was our lunch-mate at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and she loved to share family fun and incidents with we other volunteers. Oh yes, and photographs too. Our time with Mary was limited, but we were friends, nevertheless. She made us all happy with her sweet smile and cheerful personality, and helpful nature. The other comments we just read about Mary and her family relationships touched our hearts - now we know you all even better. Thank you for sharing Mary with all of us at SMH. Oh, that I were the kind of wife, mother, and grandmother she was. Sincerely -
Pete & Shirley Fronizer
December 2, 2008
We are sorry for your loss.
May Mary rest in peace.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
We are parishoners at St. Thomas
More Church.
Cindy & Eddie
December 2, 2008
Nancy and Vicki,
We are so sorry to hear about your mom. We always shared a "wave" as she was walking down the street to your house. Such a sweet person.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family.
Neighbors
Miki Orban
December 2, 2008
Nancy,
So sorry to hear of your loss. Your mom was a sweetheart. Lou and my prayers are with you and your family.
Always,
Miki
Kathye Quirk
December 1, 2008
My Nana always lived far away, so the memories are like snapshots dispersed over my lifetime, often with several years in between. Somehow she always seemed the same even as we all got older. I remember best a smiling Nana bathing my baby, Bridget, in her kitchen sink—such a sweet, grandmotherly thing. She was so thrilled to have her great-grandbabies visiting, watching her youngest grandchild at the time (Geoffrey) play with her oldest great-grandchild (Kyle). She was the proudest grandma and great-grandma. And she was so proud of “her” beach! It was the place of many great memories, like Brian and Mark as teenagers tossing young Kyle and Geoffrey around in the surf and mugging for the camera. Then some twenty tears later, there on her beach were grown-up Mark and my teenage Matthew sculpting “Nana’s” perfect white sand into lions and alligators, Nana’s artistic genes evident in their creations. My last visit had the whole gang packed into Nana’s house and she was flaunting her mad Cockney rhyming slang skills. We laughed so much that night! I will remember her that way, surrounded by all of us, laughing and rhyming.
Mary’s proud granddaughter,
Charlene Abbot
November 30, 2008
Vicki, Cindy and Nancy
I was very sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. I knew your mother only thru Vicki and the stories she would bring....especially those with Ginger. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you
Charlie (Abbot) and Eric
Marie and Mark
November 29, 2008
Nancy and Vicki,
Your mom was more than just a neighbor, but a bright spot in our day-to-day lives. For us, a favorite memory is that of seeing (so many times) your mother backing out of her driveway on the way to work at the hospital, and knowing that she would pull over and talk with us for a few moments when she would see us in our front yard. We will always remember our little chats, with her sitting in her car in her pink uniform worn with her trademark accessory – her sunny smile. Mary leaves a big hole in this world, but we will fill it with our bountiful memories of her.
With deepest sympathy, your neighbors,
Meghan Campbell
November 29, 2008
Nana,
What can we say but you are missed! I know that Jesus must be proud to have a lady like you in his company. You were truly the greatest woman I know and loved my daughter Madison like no one else could. Madison loved her Great Nana tremendously and already is talking to you in Heaven on a regular basis. Though I know that you are at peace with the Lord it is hard to know that I will never get another coffee cake or crooked finger point when you scold me for disciplining Madison:)
I love you dearly and miss you so much already. Gone too soon, but forever in my heart.
Your Grandaughter,
Angela Hibbard
November 29, 2008
I offer my condolences to Mr. Fichter and the whole family. In the loss of your wife and mother you have lost, in some ways, the center of your family life. I only met Mary a few times, but she was a force of nature. I pray that you can find some comfort in the faith that was so important to her.
Angela Hibbard, IHM
sister of Ruth Fichter
Adam Fichter
November 29, 2008
Nana, I truly appreciated the way you treated me and made me feel on the far too few occassions when I got to see you. Nana had a way of making me feel comfortable, warm and friendly, and handsome (as she was fond of pointing out to me and the other grandchildren/great-grandchildren). I regret that my wife did not get a chance to meet Nana as I am sure she would be just as impressed and filled with comfort as I was by Nana's kindness and sense of humor. My sympathy to the whole family.
Ruth Fichter
November 29, 2008
We will miss our lovely mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, Nana. Love from the Michigan Fichters and Quirks. We know you are resting in the arms of the Lord of Love! Kiss Roger for us!
Ruth
Christopher Fichter
November 29, 2008
Nana, I was proud to be your first grandchild. I got to see you love all the little ones after me, like a true "Nana". At the earliest, you showed me strength and leadership. So it was very fitting you and Pop Pop, Nancy, and Vicki sent me on my way at graduation of Navy Nuclear Power School. Dad (Roger) was proud of me for this. All the Sarasota clan made my tough time in Orlando so much more bearable, and even fun and relaxing.
Nana, you also showed me that you could enjoy, even relish, your responsibility in caring for others. In your renowned open even blunt fashion, which I favor in my own behavior, you complimented Joan and I in the way we love and care for Corinne and Haley. The great-grand-girls loved meeting you and Pop Pop a few years back.
Our love, Chris, Joan, Corinne Shannon , and Haley Rose Fichter.
Kim Robbins
November 29, 2008
Nana, you will be missed dearly! You were such a vibrant and dynamic personality for someone your age. I am so happy that Avery and Wyatt got to know you. Avery would get so excited when I would tell her we were going to go see Gigi and Pop-pop. She would always say "and Ginger too?". Brad & I loved you and he often would say, "Your Nana is something else and she is always so nice to me!" I know you were 88 yrs young, but you went way too soon. Be happy in the care of the Lord and know that I will always think of you!
Love,
Kim (granddaughter)
Jeanne Jannelli
November 29, 2008
Dear Nancy,
My heart truly goes out to you and your family. May your Mom's love of life and her family give you all some comfort in the days to come
Love & Sympathy,
Jeanne
Nina Graber
November 29, 2008
My heart is so sad this morning upon ready of the passing of my friend Mary. I have only had the joy of knowing her for the last year but the value of her friendship and knowledge cannot be measured. I work with Mary at the Auxiliary Office at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She was so funny, so wise and such a great "co-worker". We shared many, many stories most of which were of the Madison's. Her great granddaughter and my granddaughter. I can only say that she was the most organized and detailed person I have known and I felt truly lucky to have been "allowed" to learn her job since she was ill. She told me she trusted me with the information and from what I have been told Mary held tight to the information so it would be done right! I will miss her greatly and am so thankful for having known her. God Bless her family.
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