Mildred Spiess

Born in Hackensack, NJ in 1934, Millie was the daughter of the late Angelo & Jennie Mania and younger sister to John & Mike. She graduated from both Hackensack High School and St. Mary's School of Nursing with honors.

She met, JJ, her husband of 66 years, while in high school. Together, they raised 5 children in Fairfield, NJ, where they led a full life. They moved to Florida 32 years ago and loved every minute of it.

Millie found her passion in both tennis and golf. With true grit and determination, she went from being a tennis champion in NJ, to a golf champion in Florida, where she won many tournaments. She had many interests and dedicated her learning to becoming excellent in all of them. She thoroughly enjoyed Reiki, spiritual healing, mah jong and cards. She had a never-ending love of reading. She never let not knowing something deter her from becoming proficient at it.

Millie had a love for food that knew no bounds. A true 'foodie', lunch plans were discussed at breakfast and dinner plans at lunch. She'd say she could always tell if a restaurant was good by how good or bad their bread was.

Millie herself - how can you sum it up any better than saying she moved at the speed of light.

Her notoriety of careening around corners in her golf cart is epic. Her ability to get out of the car and to her destination before you even came to a stop is legendary. She walked fast, thought fast, moved fast and got things done fast. #Toofastmillie - just like her nickname, she was gone too fast.

She will be remembered for showing up at indoor venues, during the summer, with enough layers and winter scarfs to clothe a small city. She could rarely tolerate the air conditioning.

She thrived in both body and soul. She promoted love and kindness and worked hard every day to ensure she lived those values. She spent many years devoted to learning about her purpose on earth, her purpose as it related to the universe and lives before and after. She'd say she didn't want to move on without first learning the lessons she was put here on earth to learn.

We, her family, are sure that even if all her lessons were not fully realized, the lessons she taught us about integrity, selflessness, putting others first, and kindness more than sufficed.

Millie will be remembered as a devoted wife to JJ, a loving mother to Roger (Mina), Karen Hrinuk (Bob), Ron (Nenette), JoEllen Limlaw (Rob) & Alyson Spiess, the best Grandma & Nona to Lea Marie, Jeni Lynn, Jake, and Baraka, as well as a caring sister, cousin and friend. She's gone to meet the many angels that went before her, but most especially, her beloved grandson, Robbie Hrinuk, who will be greeting her with open arms (and quite possibly, a joke).

Millie was always about others and what made them happy. She put herself last to everyone. So in that same spirit, instead of flowers, she would want you to donate to your favorite charity or a person in need.

A special thanks to my daughter, Karen, who tirelessly devoted the last two months to ensuring her Mom's transition was full of light, love and peace.