Marie Blaise Fleming, 85 most recently of Margate, Florida, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2024 after a long illness. Marie was the late wife of George Edward Fleming who predeceased her on April 24, 1972.
Marie is survived by her three daughters: Deborah A. Fleming, Dr. Sandra A. Fleming and Susanne M. Fleming; and grandchildren: Dr. James N. Benz and Catalina M. Fleming, Georga and Damian Morgan-Fleming, Luke and Paige Phillips; and great grandchildren: James Jr. and Kelechi Benz, and Joseph Patrick Brett, Jr.
Marie’s family roots reach back 400+ years into Caribbean history. Born in Grand Case, St. Martin Marie’s family moved to St. Lucia when she was a baby. She tragically lost her parents by the age of four and thereafter, Marie’s 16-year-old sister, Sylvia Theobalds, married and raised her and her two older brothers, Edward and Hubert Cagan as their own.
At 17, Marie returned to St. Martin and quickly fell in love and married George Fleming at the age of 20. They moved when first married to Aruba where Deborah and Sandra were born and returned to St. Martin three years later to manage the family business and worked very hard at it. Susanne was born in St. Maarten on the Dutch side a few years later.
While in St. Martin the family enjoyed the island’s paradise which offered the beautiful sandy white beaches, weekly Sunday picnics after mass, fishing, boating excursions to neighboring islands, swimming, snorkeling and picking fresh fruit from tropical trees.
Tragedy struck in 1972 with the passing of George Fleming when Marie became widowed at age 33 with three young daughters. In keeping with their dream, Marie moved her young family to the United States the following year where her children would have access to and achieve higher education as well as to be near her brothers in Astoria, Queens. As difficult as life was in New York, holidays were always extra special while Marie still provided memorable Christmases and joyous Easters for her family.
Marie worked at Adler Shoe shop in the office as a bookkeeper in the Empire State Building for many years until Adler moved to Chicago. During this time, she earned her Associates Degree in Business at an evening college program. After that Marie had various clerical jobs and also worked in the health industry until her retirement.
Having returned to a warm climate, in Margate Florida, Marie, enjoyed her retirement with her friends, dancing and exercise, with long walks on the beach, swimming in the ocean and sang in the choir at her local church for many years. Marie was a brave, strong and determined woman who led her entire life by example and hard work. As her many challenges in life took a toll on Marie she still forged ahead determined to succeed in whatever she undertook. She went on to donate her brain and organs to Yale University for scientific research. In life and in death Marie never surrendered, she stood tall to the end.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at St. Joseph Church, Brookfield, CT.
A Memorial Gathering will be held from 2:00pm - 4:00pm on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.
