Marie Gonsalves

Marie Gonsalves, age 89, loving wife of the late William Gonsalves, dear mother of Kathy (Rick) Prechtel, Carol (Greg) Ransom, and Bill (Tracy) Gonsalves; dear grandmother of Lauren Gonsalves and Grandma G to the Ransom children, dear aunt, sister-in-law and friend to many, passed away August 19, 2017.

Marie married the love of her life, William Gonsalves, on April 3, 1948 and they were married for 37 years before his passing in 1984. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Louis University in 1973. Her 20 -year career as a nurse included working for the Visiting Nurse Association and on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Marie spent 10 years in Fort Myers, Florida where she continued her love for nursing with the UpJohn Company as an Infusion Nurse and as an advisor for the University of South Florida. She returned to St. Louis in 1994 and volunteered thousands of hours for the City of St. Peters Police Department.

Marie was known as a gracious, caring and loving person. Throughout her life, she was an avid dog lover and raised many German Shepherds as well as helped a few rescues along the way.

Thank you to the staff at Barathaven Alzheimer’s Special Care Center for their wonderful care of our mother for the past 4 years. We would also like to thank the Vitas Hospice Staff for their help and assistance with Marie’s care.

Interment will be in Lee Memorial Park Cemetery, Fort Myers, FL. Arrangements are under the direction of Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, Florida 33913. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Five Acres Animal Shelter, Vitas Community Connections or the Alzheimer’s Association.