Laura Seifert Burgess' Obituary
Laura Seifert Burgess, 95, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away peacefully March 2, 2015 after family and loved ones gathered by her bedside. Laura dedicated over 16 years to a career in elementary education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Young children were her passion as she taught Sunday school, sewed costumes for their stage productions and helped raise her two grandsons. Born in 1919 in Riverside, N.J., Laura was 1 of 6 daughters of Otto and Emily Seifert. They moved to Hollywood, Florida during the Great Depression where she met her husband of 54 years, Edward Russell Burgess. She worked in her youth at the Bell Telephone Company and during WWII, at Embry- Riddle School of Aviation for the Army Air Corps. Laura was the first in her family to enter college. She graduated with a B.Ed., cum laude, and a M. Ed. from the University of Miami. She was an active member of Phi Kappa Phi, Epsilon Tau Lambda , FL Retired Educators Assoc., United Methodist Women, Marlando Club and was a lifetime contributor for orphaned children at the FL United Methodist Children’s Home. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church. She is survived by her loving daughter, Victoria Burgess Stephan and husband, Bruce Stephan, and two grandsons: Wade Stephan (and wife Robin Stephan) and Bradley Stephan as well as her sister, Miriam Seifert Henderson, age 104, who resides in Hollywood. A service will be held at Faith United Methodist Church at 15690 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL on Saturday, March 7 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, Florida at www.fumch.org. The Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Mrs. Burgess. Condolences may be left to the family at www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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