Marie Dolores Fiedler

Marie D. Fiedler (nee Sampognaro) passed away on Monday, June 1, 2020 from complications due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. She was 83. She is survived by her two sisters, Tess Mennella-Saputo (nee Sampognaro) and Joni McClory (nee Sampognaro) as well as her nine children and their significant others, her thirty grandchildren, and her eleven great-grandchildren.

Marie was the eldest of three daughters to Joseph and Josephine Sampognaro (nee Mulea) (both deceased). At 19, Marie met and fell in love with Robert (Bob) A. Fiedler. They were engaged on April Fool's Day 1956. (That should have been a sign of the joy and laughter that was to come over the course of the next 53 years!) After a short engagement, the couple was married on July 21, 1956. Nine months and nine days later, they welcomed their firstborn daughter, Robin 1957 (Pete Ori, Tara nee Figaro and Dan Manning, Ryen, Rory, Liam, and Mack, Jilian nee Figaro and Miles, Mallory, Phoebe, and Oliver), and they were never alone again. Soon to follow were Rory 1958 (Paula Kowalkowski), Robert /Bobby Joe 1959 (Danielle nee Barraia and Chris Szczucki, Cascian, Enzo, and Saffron, Vickie nee Sorenson, Bekkah, Scott, and Hannah), Regina/ Gina 1960 (Roger Castle, Nicholas (Palika nee Makam), Marie, Johnny (Rosanna nee Lederhausen), and Elaina), Ricky 1963 (Sherry nee Mitchell, Jeremy (Chelsey nee Hawes), and Rikki), Ray 1965 (Cherie nee Mitsuuchi, AJ, Bella, and Ethan), Renee 1966 (Rich Kaczmarski, Ashley nee Giordano and Kevin Duff, Josephine, and Tommy, Tom Giordano and Kara, Frankie Giordano, Sophie and Casey Kaczmarski), Ron 1967 (Wendy nee Hasbrouck, Savannah, Lexie, and Ronni), and Rebecca/Becky 1972 (Larry Cariato, Payton, Jake, Reagan, and Brooklyn), and Steve.

Bob worked hard to create a life that his family deserved, and so it was Marie's job to keep the family home safe and clean, keep an organized laundry room and kitchen, and took great care of the overall health and happiness of her family. Marie took great pride in that job! She was quick to laugh at the antics of her exuberant boys, always standing on the sidelines of every game they played, and took pride in making sure that her girls were both "ladies" and athletes. She kept her home meticulously clean, even if it meant occasionally scrubbing floors at 3 am when no one would get in the way of her routine. Of course, she expected help with certain tasks, but even with five sons in the house she would insist on mowing her own lawn and shoveling her own sidewalks so they were done to her expectations. She loved maintaining her garden as well. Mealtime was often a smorgasbord to make sure that there were vegetables available for everyone to eat because NO ONE ate the same kinds. It never mattered what time it was, be it after a basketball game or a volleyball tournament, the family sat down together for dinner every night. And she always, always had snacks hidden somewhere so that the last minute visitor to show up at the house could sit down to coffee and some little cakes. And let's not get started on the endless supply of chocolate chip cookies that were always freshly made and sitting on top of the fridge in their green Tupperware container.

Marie delighted in the times that the kids' friends were at the house. To her, when they were in her home, they were "her" kids. Everyone was comfortable going into the fridge to look for snacks or Kool Aid. There were many high school parties in the backyard where you'd find Bob at the grill cooking up hot dogs while Marie manned the kitchen filling big bowls with chips and making gallons of Kool Aid while throngs of kids danced in the yard. There was a reward for both Bob and Marie on those nights. All of the kids called them "Ma and Pa Fieds". They were regarded as extended family.

One of the best gifts that Bob bestowed on his beloved wife was a backyard swimming pool. Marie didn't know how to swim, but boy could she handle a floating pool device! She would happily float around in the sunshine for hours especially after mowing the lawn. One Spring, a mama and daddy Mallard duck couple showed up and took up residence in the pool to prepare for the birth of their ducklings. Marie was so sad when it was time for them to go. But later that Summer, you could drive down Hamilton Avenue around lunchtime to find several UPS trucks parked on the street. And if you could sneak a peek into the backyard on those hot and humid days, you would see the UPS drivers in the pool in their full uniforms cooling off in the pool at Marie's invitation, while she served them lemonade or iced tea before their lunch breaks were over. She made everyone feel like family. She and Bob could cut a rug like nobody's business. Her smile was infectious. It was so easy to make her laugh. She will be missed by so many people especially those of us who loved her.

We will be honoring Marie at a Memorial Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Huntley, 10307 Dundee Road on Friday, June 19, 2020 at 10:00 am. If you are thinking of making any kind of donation, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in Marie's name. Please remember everyone's safety in these trying times. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Keep your social distance.