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Marie Treder
Marie Treder, my mother, passed away only 15 days prior to her 100th birthday. She will be missed by all her family and friends. However, we celebrate an interesting and marvelous life. Think of all the changes in the world that she witnessed and the many blessings bestowed on her during her lifetime. The marriage to John Treder in 1929, then the birth of three children — DeWitt, John and Norma — seeing them happily married and their children come into the world, nine grandchildren in all. She was also the proud great-grandmother of 11 great-grandchildren. Marie was called "Oma" which in German means Granny. All her grandchildren and their friends referred to her as Oma. Marie was one of six children born in Germany. She came to the United States to join one sister when she was 17. That in itself was a grand adventure for a girl from a small German town. When traveling back to Germany as a young mother, her father warned her not to return until the "madman" from the south he had heard of was gone. He was afraid for his country and its people. My mother accepted life and all it brought to her, both bad and good. She was proud to see her son DeWitt rise in the police force to become commissioner of Suffolk County and her son John go up the ranks in Nassau at Lake Success. When her beloved husband passed away, she came to live with my husband and me in Old Field. She embraced a new chapter in her life. We have many happy memories and funny stories of our 22 years together as an extended family. When driving became a problem at 90, Marie wanted to maintain her own independence and moved to Atria independent living until she was confined to a wheelchair. At that time she became a resident of St. James Healthcare facility. Again a new change where she made new friends and enjoyed the staff there. She never missed an exercise class. What a wonderful group of people work at this facility. My mother gave me many gifts of her wisdom. One is her acceptance of whatever life dealt her. She would say, "It is what it is." When visiting at the nursing home she would always tell me, "Remember, it is what it is and I just got too old. I have to be here to get the care I need."
Marie went from horse and buggy to driving her own car until the age of 90. From Germany to the USA; from never having a TV to seeing a few in every household; from no phones — the midwife was summoned by horseback when she was being born — to cell phones. So many variables and she accepted and enjoyed them all. I have many wonderful stories to tell of my mother, she will be with me always and I am so grateful for the gift she received of such a wonderful long life. My entire family celebrates the life she had and we will all miss her being here but are so grateful for what we had in the almost 100 years of Marie Treder.
A funeral service will be held at the Bryant Funeral Home, 411 Old Town Road, Setauket, Thursday, Jan. 19, at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers please donate to St. James Healthcare Recreation Facility.
— Norma Stewart
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