Marjorie Ziemba Surprenant

July 27, 1943 – March 25, 2025

Marjorie was the daughter of the late Adam Ziemba and Mary (Scanlon) Ziemba. She was born in Lowell, MA, and raised in Dracut, MA, before making Fort Pierce, FL, her home for the last 25 years. She passed away peacefully at Treasure Coast Hospice with her family by her side.

How do you put 81 years of life into an obituary?

Mom was full of life—energetic, loving, independent, and at times complicated—but she always lived on her own terms, especially at the end.

Grammy cherished her grandsons, Adam and Zachary, who she lovingly coined The Sunshine Boys. They brought her endless joy, and she never missed a chance to cheer them on at their games, concerts, and life events. For 18 years straight, they shared a special Christmas party together, which the three of them looked forward to every year. New Christmas pajamas, golf cart rides through the neighborhood to see the lights, and just being together—it was a tradition like no other.

She cherished her Friday dates with Ray, and he cherished them with her. Every week, she'd turn to him and say, "Let's go have some fun!" Those days always turned into an adventure—driving through nearby towns, shopping, sightseeing, and finding a good place to eat. She loved those simple, spontaneous moments.

Some of my earliest memories are of my mom playing the accordion, filling the house with polka music. She had been playing since she was a little girl, and when she played, you could see the joy in her face and the rhythm in her body. Music was her happy place.

Mom had a sharp mind and a quick set of hands. She worked as an administrative assistant throughout her career, starting at Raytheon, then moving into education administration, the legal field, and finally the arts at Merrimack Repertory Theater. No matter the industry, she was known for her speed, efficiency, and ability to keep things running smoothly. I'd call her at work and hear the keys flying—225 words per minute, she'd say. And to this day, I still find her notepads filled with shorthand that no one but her could decipher.

She loved cooking, playing cribbage, and card game nights, playing the slots, and shopping. She took pride in setting a beautiful table, not just with dishes and silverware, but with thoughtful touches that made every gathering feel special. She was the absolute best at getting stains out of clothes and the only person I knew who truly enjoyed ironing—Ray will surely miss the perfectly pressed pleats in his shorts.

Some of my favorite moments with her in recent years were spent traveling—a road trip to Graceland, seeing it through her eyes as she told the story, once again, of catching Elvis's scarf at one of his last concerts in Providence, RI. To this day, she never stopped talking about it. A road trip to Charleston, exploring the city and being chauffeured around Folly Beach by The Sunshine Boys in a golf cart, laughing the entire way and holding on for dear life.

She cared for my sister, Darlene, for months before she passed away from cancer. It was one of the most selfless things she ever did.

She is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Raymond Surprenant; her daughter, Kimberlee Menchel (Roberts); her grandsons, Adam and Zachary Menchel; her goddaughter and niece, Lori Bissonette (Ziemba); her lifelong best friends, Mary Boisvert and Lisa Chin; and her sister-in-law, Kay Ziemba. She was predeceased by her brother, Robert Ziemba, and her daughter, Darlene Roberts.

Through her marriage to Ray, she is also survived by his children, Sharon, Sheila, and Johnny, along with their families.

To her extended family and friends, as Mom would say, "It's not goodbye—it's farewell for now."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Treasure Coast Hospice to benefit St. Lucie Hospice House. Contributions can be sent to:

Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997 or online at Treasure Coast Hospice Donation Page .