Maria Elisabeth Warford

On Sunday, May 13, 2018 Maria Elisabeth Warford, at the age of 69, peacefully passed away in her home surrounded by her beloved family & friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bruno and Agnieszka Noetzel.

She is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Lee Alan Warford, daughters Andrea “Andi” Lacey and Cecilia “Cece Warford and son, Anthony “Tony” Warford & his wife, Megan Warford. She was blessed with three beautiful grandchildren who miss her dearly, Patrick J. Lacey (26) & his fiancé Holli-Rae Evans, Jesse H. Warford (3) and Aubrey J. Warford (2).

Maria was born on March 25, 1949 in Gdansk, Poland. Her parents, wanting a better life for her moved to the United States on January 31, 1961. They settled in South Bend, Indiana making a lot of friends and enjoying their new home. They frequented church gatherings and made friends quickly. Bruno worked and learned English quickly teaching Maria as well. Maria made school friends easily as she had a heart of gold and was fun to be around. They were excited to be free to travel the states seeing various national state parks, landscape and historic sites. Aunts, uncles and cousins lived nearby to make living in an unfamiliar area easier. They warmly hosted many gatherings and always welcomed everyone into their home. Extended family would travel from Poland and Germany to travel the states with them. During the road trips Maria would catch up on her reading as Bruno drove telling her to look at the beautiful countryside! She would always tell him her book was more interesting!

As Bruno exceled in his career he moved their small family to San Diego, CA. There she became a California Beach girl! She made lifelong friends and was an excellent student. She had crushes on boys, went to dances and hung out with her girlfriends at the local shops and on the beach. She really had fond memories of her time there.

Just about the time she was to enter her 12th grade year of high school Bruno got a job and moved their small family to Alexandria, VA. It was difficult to move for her last year of high school, but she had the strength to see it through. There in Hammond High School she made friends easily and graduated. Bruno was working with a lady that was friendly and invited him & his family to her family home for dinner. That really made an impact on Maria. Picture it! 1966! There, across the dinner table sat a sailor. His name was Lee! She was smitten! He had come home on leave and told stories of traveling the world. Boy was she thrilled with this new friend. It didn’t take long for them to realize they were a match. They began to date and of course he would come and go but they kept in touch writing letters. Eventually they decided to marry! Sealing the deal On March 9, 1968 in Fort Myers, VA. It wasn’t long until they had three children. Lee had discharged from the Navy and began exploring careers. They lived in Norfolk, VA, Kensington, MD, Waynesboro, PA, Chesterfield, VA, Laurel, MD and finally settled down in Stafford, VA. Maria’s life was her children and she stayed home with them the best she could. When money was tight she would pick up a career in Special Education assisting in classrooms. She loved working with this special community as she was able to be close to Cece and earn some money to help the household. She was involved in many school activities with all 3 kids. She was very talented and creative. There were brownie troop activities, school plays and concerts and art shows to host. She did everything with a warm smile and tender heart. She enjoyed reading her romance novels, gardening, and sewing. She eventually took up scrapbooking in later years to which all of us are grateful. Had she not done the scrapbooks we would have pictures and documents stacked a mile high!

Maria worked as a sous chef for a family owned restaurant here in Stafford and then eventually turned to care giving for the elderly after taking care of Bruno who suffered and passed away from Alzheimer’s in 1998. She cared for a variety of patients in the Stafford and Fredericksburg area and remained a constant in her mother’s life until her passing in 2004.

Maria was so very talented and giving. She enjoyed her memories of friends, family gatherings and all the fun times over the years. She enjoyed shopping and lunches with girlfriends and daughters. She would sit for hours on the beach with her babies in her early years of motherhood. She was helpful to her friends in times of need and was repaid by friends when she really needed it in times of illness.

She was excited to have grandchildren. Patrick came first in 1991. He was the sparkle in her eye. She was able to play with him and create memories that will last a lifetime, I am forever grateful for her presence in his life. He is the man he is today because we had her. For the longest time Maria thought she would not

have any more grandchildren until 2014 came and Tony announced he was having a baby! It wasn’t long after, in 2016 that we were all blessed with a little girl. Jesse and Aubrey are just the thing she needed to bring that sparkle back. Although she was suffering from illness before the little ones came along you’d never know it. She soldiered on, smile on her face, never complaining that she hurt. She would quietly sit and take in all the chaos that small children can bring to your day. She would say, “this is what life is all about, this.”

Our wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend will be missed today and every day after. For her family and for those that loved her there will forever be a void that cannot be filled.