Antoinette Violet Marquardt's Obituary
Antoinette Violet Tomsic Seme Marquardt, 93, of Fort Myers, FL. And formerly, Cleveland, OH. Passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at Parkway Senior Living in Blue Spings, MO. She had been living with and near her youngest daughter Kathy Jungers in Blue Springs for over the past 2 years.
Antoinette was born on August 28, 1927 in Cleveland, OH to the late Frances Vidrih Tomsic Novak and Jakob Tomsic, both who emigrated from Slovenia. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband of 40 years, Stanley Seme, second husband of 21 years, Frederick W. Marquardt, and sister Lillian Machne.
In her early years in Cleveland, Antoinette was one of a group of women employed by Dandee Pretzel & Chip Co. to hand-twist pretzels. She also worked for Richman Brothers and White Motor Company. During the summer of 1971, she and Stanley moved their family to the Cape Coral/ Fort Myers area. Throughout her 48 years in Florida Antoitnette worked as co-manager at Sanibel Arms West and Bonita Beach Club Condominiums; and was Assistant Administrator of Meadowbrook Park Assistant Living Facility. She was a member of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church.
Antoinette and both of her husbands were excellent polka dancers. She was fond of Slovenian music and loved to dance to Slovenian-style polkas which were a big part of her heritage. She liked to sew, crochet, do ceramics. She was also a member of the SWFL Polka Boosters, Women of the Moose- Cape Coral Division, and Elks Lodge No. 1288, Fort Myers.
She is mother to 3 surviving daughters, Linda Burik Pournaras (dDavid) of Fort Myers, FL and Sylva, NC; Sandra Cagle (Roger) of Fairview, NC; and Kathleen Jungers of Blue Springs, MO; and stepmother of Michelle Marquardt-Gibson (Michael) of Anacortes Island, WA; and deceased Kathleen and Randall Marquardt.
Grandmother to Todd Burik (Anne) of Fort Myers, FL, Mika Cagle, Asheville, NC, Alexandra Drobnic Neske (Nathan) Blue Springs, MO, Jacob Cagle, Los Angeles, CA, Kyle Cagle of Fairview, NC, Erin Pournaras (Michael) of Aiken, SC, and Courtney Pournaras, Fort Myers.
Great-grandmother to Cooper and Crosby Burik, Fort Myers. She is also survived by many out of state relatives and friends.
A closed casket, social distancing visitation service will be held on Saturday, January 23rd from 3:00 to 4:00PM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Masks are required. Funeral service and interment will follow visiting at 4:00PM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Flowers may be sent or donations made to St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church, 5632 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919 or to the American Heart Association.
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