Margaret Prietz

Margaret Blake Prietz VIRGINIA BEACH - Margaret Blake "Maggie" Prietz, 74, passed away quietly at her home Nov. 16, 2010 with her loving husband of 18 years, Charles M. Prietz, by her side. Maggie was born April 7, 1936 in Cumberland, Md., to John Edward Blake and Mary Josephine "Mollie" Blake (both deceased) and was an only child. In addition to her husband, she is also survived by her four children, Mary Carroll Decker of Milltown, N.J., Patrick Garrett of Rye, N.Y., William Garrett of Richmond, Va., and Michael Garrett of Silver Spring, Md.; her stepdaughters, Joanne Schalz, Michele Rose, Melissa Maier; and 13 grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all. Maggie attended Catholic Girls Central High School in Cumberland and then graduated Summa Cum Laude from Frostburg State University with a degree in primary education. She was also an accomplished pianist and organist. After her early teaching career, Maggie later found her passion as a salesperson in the air compressor industry, where she worked for more than 25 years and retired as the director of Breathing Air Sales for Bauer Compressors (Norfolk). She was an avid reader and card player, and enjoyed solving the daily word puzzles in the newspaper. She also loved to travel, and she and her husband, Charlie, saw the world together both before and during her retirement. The family will be receiving guests from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 18, at the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel, at 1457 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach. A Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at noon Friday, Nov. 19, at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception at 232 Chapel St., Norfolk. Maggie's wish was to be buried with her parents in the St. Patrick's Cemetery in Cumberland, Md. Services there will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are encouraged to the charity of your choice or to the American Cancer Society. Friends may offer condolences at www.hollomon-brown.com.