Marie C. McCree

Marie McCree passed away on June 1, 2026 at the age of 94. She was born on February 26, 1932, in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, the second of three daughters of Cecilia and Stephen Gayzik. She attended parochial schools in that area, graduating from St. Patrick High School in 1948. She was accepted as a student at the Kings County Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from that program in 1952. Since her parents had moved to Orlando, Florida, she joined them and worked at Orange Memorial Hospital (now ORMC) in the Emergency Room. The secretary on her shift, Melva McCree Yatsuk, introduced Marie to her brother, A. Gilbert (Bert) McCree. The two were married within a year and enjoyed 70 years of marriage.

Marie was a devoted volunteer in her community and church. She was a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Minister of the Sick, first at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Union Park and later at St. James Cathedral in downtown Orlando. As Minister of the Sick at St. James she visited residents at Orlando Lutheran Towers for over 15 years. While her children attended Good Shepherd Catholic School, Marie led a Girl Scout troop and volunteered as a nurse in the school clinic. Marie volunteered with Adult Literacy League, and for 15 years read the newspaper for the visually impaired and print-disabled for WMFE’s Audio/Reading Service. Marie was a consistent volunteer at her voting precinct and served as precinct supervisor for many elections. To use her talent as a seamstress, Marie made over 3,000 baptismal bibs for the newly baptized babies at St. James Cathedral. Marie and Bert danced for many years with the Whirl and Twirl Square Dance Club, and Marie sewed their colorful, matching outfits. During her years at Westminster Towers, she served the community in numerous ways. At one time or another, she was secretary of the Residents’ Council, chairman of the Income Tax Assistance Committee, chairman of the Biography Committee, secretary of the Spiritual Life Committee, and volunteered in the White Elephant Annex. At age 93, Marie brushed up on her crochet skills and joined other Westminster residents in crafting beautiful caps for cancer patients.

Marie is survived by her sister Judy (Jack) Guggino, children Mark McCree, Eva (Curt) Chapman, and Adele (Joe) Robertson, grandchildren Jeannette Kunzen, Christina Dubose, Erin Robertson and Lisa Penkal and great granddaughters Maggie and Scarlet. She is predeceased by her husband Bert, sister Cecile and son Dean, who died soon after birth.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on June 8, in the Chapel of St. James Cathedral, 215 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL. Following the mass burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, 1602 Greenwood St. Orlando, FL 32801.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Marie’s memory to The Russell Home for Atypical Children.