Mary Fiorenza

Mary Jane Fiorenza (Doser); born on October 28, 1942; died on Saturday, February 13, 2016, of respiratory failure with several complications. Mary loved her husband, her family, the Village of Potosi, and the green hills and valleys of southwest Wisconsin. It brought her great delight to reel in a bass, to search for morels, to gather hickory nuts, to pick wild grapes or plums, to climb apple trees, to cut watercress, and to work in her garden. Valedictorian of her class, Mary graduated from Potosi High School in 1960 and earned her college degree from UW-Platteville in 1964. Mary taught in Rockford, IL, and at Saints Andrew/Thomas School in Potosi. She took great joy and pride in her 36 year teaching career and brought out the best in her students. Mary was a superb athlete as well as a good cook and baker. She never saw a recipe she couldn't tweak to make it just a little bit better, and it brought her great joy to prepare Christmas plates for the elderly residents in the community and those in nursing care facilities. Her only desire was to live to another spring/summer so she could see the Daffodils bloom and hear the Jenny Wrens sing. She will be missed.

She was preceded in death by her father, Danny (V.J.) Doser.

Survivors include her husband, Frank of 39 years; mother Leona Doser (Ambort); sister, Janet; brother, Jim; and numerous nieces and nephews. The following are words Mary wrote more than 50 years ago: ''With heavy steps from this retreat I cross the line where worlds meet, but leave behind my spirit there, to soar upon the forest air.''

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Potosi with Father Richard Leffler officiating. Burial was in St. Thomas Cemetery, Potosi. Family and friends called on Friday, February 19, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Potosi, where a 3:30 p.m. parish rosary will be prayed.