Marie Kridos

Marie Kridos was truly remarkable. At a time when most women stayed home, raised children, and had a husband to rely on, she had none of those things. Yet she never let that define her. When our grandmother decided our family should move to Florida, which was a place Mom embraced because she hated the cold; she gathered her four children, all under the age of seven, along with our grandfather, and drove from New York to Florida in a station wagon. We left behind our grandparents, our New Jersey cousins, and the neighborhood we had always known, stepping into a brand-new chapter filled with hope and opportunity.

The day she registered us for Nativity, in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, the principal mentioned they didn’t have a teacher for the first day of school. Without hesitation, she interviewed on the spot. That single moment sparked a calling that would become more than a 40-year career, touching the lives of countless children. Even today, former students from Nativity and Cooper City Elementary still speak with admiration and gratitude about “Mrs. Kridos” and the lasting impact she had on their lives.

That was Mom: fearless, faithful, and always willing to jump in, figure things out, and make it happen.

Marie lived a long, joyful, and meaningful life. She was a devoted mother to Greg, Stacie, Lisa, and Tommy; a loving mother-in-law to Cindy, Gary, and Carol Ann; a proud grandmother to Nikki, Jenny, Kalen, Megan, Ryan, Nick, and Krystyna; a cherished grandmother-in-law to Jill, Chris, Eric, Emily, and Ymir; and a beloved great-grandmother to Declan and Bennett.

From the time we lived in New York, she dedicated herself to PWP (Parents Without Partners). Even after the organization had largely faded, she continued serving as President Emeritus in Hollywood. Through PWP she gave her children unforgettable memories; from meeting Bozo the Clown to ferry rides to Bear Mountain, to magical Christmas parties.

Marie was truly a force of nature. Her greatest gift was her unwavering positivity and optimism, especially during the last two and a half years, which were not always easy. She loved watching television, reading the newspaper, and never missed an episode of “The Young and the Restless” or a Miami Dolphins game. Every football season she cheered with all her heart, convinced that this would finally be the Dolphins’ year, because hope was simply part of who she was.

Family meant everything to Marie. She lived by the words “La Familia,” and she passed that love to every one of her children and grandchildren. She also had a deep love for travel and adventure, a spirit that her family is grateful to have inherited.

One of our favorite memories captures her perfectly. During a torrential South Florida rainstorm, with thunder shaking the sky and lightning flashing overhead, we were at the Nativity Fair and many of the children began to cry. Mom simply smiled and said, “Don’t worry, the thunder is the angels bowling in heaven, and the lightning happens when they get a strike.” She had an extraordinary way of turning fear into comfort and reminding us that there was always something beautiful to believe in.

So the next time you find yourself caught in a South Florida downpour, think of Marie bowling with the angels and smiling down on all of us.

From 1926 to 2026, Marie Kridos lived a remarkable life, one defined by courage, compassion, faith, optimism, and unconditional love. Her legacy lives on through every life she touched. Well done, Mom. We love you always.