Mary Victoria Moran

Mary Victoria Moran, age 97, passed away peacefully surrounded by family under hospice care at AdventHealth Fish Memorial hospital on November 12, 2025, in Orange City, Florida. She was born on February 8, 1928, in Bollington, Cheshire, England, to parents Mary Jane (Suddons) and John Thomas Massey.

Mary immigrated to the United States in 1954 on the RMS Scythia from Liverpool to New York City, celebrating her 26 th birthday on the ship. The winter voyage with rough seas would keep most passengers seasick in their cabins, but Mary was of hardier stock and never missed a meal in the dining room. Settling in New Jersey, she would meet her husband while working as a car hop at the White Castle in Clifton. The couple would have four daughters, five grandchildren, and to date, four great grandchildren.

In 1990 Mary and some family members moved to Port Orange, Florida. While she always loved vacationing in Florida, particularly the warmth, she was not a beach person and hated the sand especially. She was an avid reader all her life and once she switched to eBooks, had three Kindles in simultaneous use. Cooking was another of her favorite things to do and she would spend hours looking at cookbooks accumulated over a lifetime. She would never embrace looking at or for recipes online. That was just a bridge too far for her.

Besides her parents, Mary was predeceased by her husband Thomas Moran, daughter Barbara Moran, beloved pets, and extended family and friends she would often talk about. Left to cherish her memory are daughters Patricia and husband Andy Firlej of Saddle Brook, NJ, Nancy Moran of Port Orange, Florida, and Judy and husband John Stankiewicz of Elmwood Park, NJ. Grandchildren Nicole Stafford of DeLand, Florida, Tom Firlej of Highland, NY, Lauren Stankiewicz and partner Ryan Oliveira of Elmwood Park, NJ, Lisa and husband Jake Pustkowski of Waldwick, NJ, and John Stankiewicz of Elmwood Park, NJ. Great-grandchildren Maverick and Colton Stafford and Zach and Zoey Pustkowski.

A true animal lover, Mary made a memorable visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, in 2014 and was a monthly donor to this incredible organization. For those wishing to honor her memory in some way, please consider making a donation to Best Friends or your local in-need animal shelter.

There will be no formal memorial service but many informal get togethers with family and friends for years to come in fond remembrance of a truly remarkable soul.