Annamarie Maziarz

Annamarie Maziarz was born in Patterson, New Jersey, 83 years ago to John and Mary LaTerra. She was the youngest of four siblings to eldest sister Eileen and brothers William and John, Jr.

She was a graduate of William Patterson University, having earned a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Annamarie serviced the community as an elementary school teacher for a total of 25 years in the school districts of Clifton, Wycoff, and West Windsor. After taking time off from her career to raise her young children, she spent the final 17 years of her career at Hainesport Township Elementary School. She was the head of Hainesport Elementary's Gifted and Talented program when she retired.

She is survived by her loving husband Robert. S. Maziarz, Sr. Annamarie and Bob were married for 55 years and together they raised two children, Marisa (Arthur) Gravanis, of Whitby, Ontario and Robert, Jr., of Tampa, Florida.

The highlight of Annamarie's life was her time as grandmother to Marisa and Arthur's daughters, Maya and Zoe. She looked forward to traveling to Canada for their birthday parties twice a year and celebrating with a large network of extended family and friends. Annamarie, Maya, and Zoe loved 'Girls Day' shopping trips on both sides of the Canada/USA border, sunny days at the Jersey shore, mani-pedi's, and long telephone conversations catching up on the latest movies and TV shows, fashion trends, and other happenings in the girls' lives. Maya once remarked, "It's like having the best teacher you've ever had, except she is our grandmother."

She also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her son's greyhound and introduced him around town as her, "Grand dog". This was astonishing to those who knew Annamarie, as she had been hesitant to even allow a dog into her home until her son showed up with a greyhound the size of a small deer one Easter.

Annamarie was a talented Italian and Polish cook and baker and taught her family her recipes while preparing their favourite dishes. She was a wonderful traveling companion and she and Bob traveled through the United States, Canada, Mexico, Western and Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. She was an avid theatre goer in New York, Philadelphia, London, and proudly attended all of Maya and Zoe's theatre performances in Canada. Annamarie never walked past an art museum, a shopping outlet, or a beach without stopping. She enjoyed taking rides on the boat with the family, fishing, and going on her daily walks.

Annamarie was surrounded by faith, love, and the strength of her entire family as she passed peacefully at Mt. Holly Virtua Samaritan Hospice after being blessed with a perfect Thanksgiving, which turned out to be her last day at home. The Maziarz and Gravanis families would like to express their deepest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, social workers, and the entire staff at Samaritan Hospice for their unwavering compassion, care, and support for Annamarie and her family during the last week of her life; she was a lady until the end.

All are welcome to attend the funeral mass for Annamarie at 11am on Tuesday, December 9th at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 260 High Street, Mt. Holly. Cremation will follow the mass. Burial at Doyle Military Cemetery on Friday, December 12, 2025, will be private.

The Maziarz and Gravanis families would like to thank our family, friends, and colleagues from both near and far for all the texts, phone calls, and prayers during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Samaritan Hospice in honour of Annamarie's life would be greatly appreciated.