Mary Patricia Zemel

Mary Patricia Zemel passed away in her home on Marco Island, FL on January 28, 2026. Mary Kane Zemel was born in Boscobel, Wisconsin on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1935. Her mother died prematurely and Mary was raised by Viva and Walter Seamans.

She grew up in Waunakee, Wisconsin. After high school, she went to nursing school and graduated with an RN degree. Several years later she obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Resources. Mary spent winters in the Miami area of Florida and summers in Wisconsin.

Mary met her future husband, Norman, while working at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. Even though she lost a bet, I paid for dinner. I was captivated by her baby blue eyes, and we were married on June 14, 1970.

Her husband had an orthopedic surgery residency at Northwestern University in Chicago where they lived for four years. They moved to Los Angeles in 1973, where Norman spent one year in a hand surgery fellowship. They stayed in California for thirty-five more years, living in Malibu. Mary worked as a nurse for several years. She took up an interest in painting and was involved in the Malibu Art Club.

In 2012, Mary and Norman moved to Marco Island, Florida where they lived up to her death. In the interim she was very involved with the Marco Island Center for the Arts. This included time on the governing board and also involvement in the children’s art programs including as a teacher.

Mary passed away on January 28, 2026. She is peacefully with the angels and at rest.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 1:00 - 3:30 pm at Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home, 577 E. Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, FL, 34145.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marco Island Center for the Arts Children's Programs,1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145 or online at (www.marcoislandart.org/support).