Marie F. Pierce, 95

LEWES - Marie F. Pierce, of Lewes, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, March 7, 2008. She was 95.

Marie born to the late Frank and Pauline Warzecha on Sept. 11, 1912, in Portland, Ore. The family settled in Milford.

Marie married the love of her life, the late Leo Pierce, and moved to Wilmington.

Marie was known to everyone as "Mom Mom" and she dedicated her life to taking care of others.

She began her career in nursing in the Milford Hospital, then the VA hospital in Elsmere.

Marie then transferred to the Wilmington General Hospital Emergency Room, from which she retired.

She traveled on the weekends to the beach and eventually decided to reside in Angola.

Once Marie had moved to the beach she still had the need to take care of others.

She began working at the Visiting Nurses Association, then Home Health Care, then Sussex County AIDS Council (S.C.A.C), and private duty nursing.

Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her was touched by her strength, love of life and ability to take care of others.

Marie was an active member of St. Edmond's Catholic church where she was a Eucharistic Minister.

She loved being surrounded by her family. Marie also loved to do arts and crafts.

In September, on her 95th birthday, she was incredibly happy to have a surprise birthday party with over 100 attendees from all over the United States.

She was loved by so many people.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Leo Vincent Pierce (1983), she was preceded in death by her daughter, Rosalie Charles; and granddaughter, Pamela Topor.

She is survived by her children, Helena Mack of Cochranville, Pa., Edward Pierce of Newport, Pat Lockwood of Lewes, who took tremendous care of her mother until she passed away, and Barbara Muterspaw of San Diego, Calif.; her grandson Timothy Charles, whom she raised from the age of 18 months old; 10 other grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and a niece, Deborah Pierce, who also helped care for Marie.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Michael J. Carrier at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Cathedral of St. Peter, 500 N. West St., Wilmington.

Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington.

Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday in Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriot's Way, Milford, DE 19963; or to S.C.A.C., P.O. Box 712, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.