Marie A. Fioravanti

1914 - 2023

Marie A. Fioravanti, 109, of Gouglersville, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday August 25, 2023. She was the wife of the late Joseph Fioravanti, who passed away May 19, 1991. Marie and Joe raised two children, Ronald (Constance) and Joanne (Frank Crupi, deceased), and she had three grandsons, Kevin Crupi, Brian Crupi and Stephen Fioravanti (Ann) and one granddaughter, Jena Fioravanti Burkett (Christopher). Marie had five great-grandsons, Craig Crupi, Owen Burkett, Wyatt Burkett, James Fioravanti and Eli Fioravanti and one great-granddaughter, Samantha Crupi (Kelsey Munn). She was a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother. Milk and cookies were always available in her kitchen and she was always ready to play a board game or teach a grandchild to play 500 Rummy. Born in Reading on July 13, 1914, Marie was the daughter of the late Anna (Kessler) and Harry L. Heinly. She had close relationships with her siblings, all now deceasd. Edmund Heinly (Gladys), Ruth Swavely (Daniel), Lillian Gier (Walter), Mae Massa (Victor) as well as her nieces and nephews. One brother, Harry Heinly, Junior, passed away as an infant. She enjoyed her friendships with her husband's family over the years including post-Christmas luncheons with nieces and nephews more recently. Marie considered the early years of her marriage a special time in her life. She and Joe lived in the 1300 block of Greenwich Street in Reading side-by-side with several families that became life-long friends, Grace and/Walter Reider, Wes and Jayne Fisher, John and Irene Pollock and their families. On many occasions she recounted the fun times they all had together in those years. Upon moving to Gouglersville, Marie went on to form many more friendships including with Madeline and Carthell Atkins, Mary and Werner Sobottka, Ellen and Herman Bannitza, and Mary and Walter Heffner and their families. She and Joe cherished these and many other circles of friends. Their summer picnics are still remembered by those who attended. Marie was always a lady and dressed with style. She loved to go out with friends and family and going out to lunch with friends was a regular part of her life. At one point her family thought that she had been to every restaurant in Berks county. She belonged to a Ladies Club that met at members' homes on a regular basis for many years. Visits to her sister Mae and her family in NJ were thoroughly enjoyed. She and Joe traveled to Williamsburg Virginia multiple times as it was her favorite destination. They also enjoyed visiting her brother Edmund and his wife Gladys in Sarasota, Florida for a few weeks each winter for many years. After leaving school following the eighth grade, Marie worked at David Crystal in Reading until she was married. She and her sisters were excellent seamstresses and excelled at knitting. Over the years, many of the grandchildren received sweaters and other knitted garments. Marie was proud to have made the wedding and bridesmaid dresses for her beloved daughter Joanne and a wedding dress for her beloved niece, Coralee Gleason (Tim). She knitted a beautiful formal dress with jacket to wear to the wedding of her son Ronald. Once her children were grown Marie took a part-time job at Whitner's in the handbag department and later she put her sewing skills to good use when she worked at the Violet Room, a dress shop, in Shillington, as a seamstress. When the Violet Room closed, Marie opened her own ladies clothing alteration business and continued that business into her nineties. Marie had few health issues and, when asked, always credited never tasting coffee as her secret to her long life. She loved her independence and with the help of her devoted daughter and son and daughter-in-law and outside caregivers she was able to remain in her home until she was 106 years old. She moved to Mifflin Court, Shillington, PA, at that time. Thank you to all the caregivers, hairdressers, nurses, doctors and transportation staff who have provided care for Marie both at home and while she was a resident at Mifflin Court. A special thank you is extended to Dr. Guri Bronner, Ophthalmologist, Wyomissing, PA, and his caring staff who made it possible for Marie to maintain her vision and made the office visits as pleasant as possible. Memorial Service will be held at Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 129 East Lancaster Ave. Shillington, Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 11:00 am. Reverend Deb Gifford will officiate. Interment will follow at Spies-Zion Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services Wednesday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund 19 Vermont Road, Sinking Spring, PA 19608 in memory of Mrs. Marie Anna Fioravanti. Online condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com