Marie Wysocki's Obituary
Marie Wysocki passed away at her home in Escondido on August 11, 2024. She was 87 years old. Born in New York City on February 20, 1937, Marie’s Irish mother Angela was a registered nurse, and her French father Louis was the assistant banquet manager at the Carlyle Hotel. Her older sister, Joan, was a fashion model and medical secretary. With Central Park as a playground and subsidized cultural opportunities across the city, Marie and her sister had a vibrant and exciting upbringing in the 30s, 40s, and 50s despite their modest economic status. Marie fell in love with ballet, taking classes above Carnegie Hall and even dancing across the stage at Radio City Music Hall. Her favorite film was “The Red Shoes” starring redhead ballerina Moira Shearer.
Upon graduating high school, a nun who taught Marie recruited her for a secretarial position at the FBI in 1955. She found personal fulfillment in her career and coworkers, and even occasionally went out on missions as a decoy for the all-male special agents. In 1964, Marie and her family moved to San Diego, where she became the secretary for the Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office.
In 1970, Marie married Neal Wysocki, a banker, and eventually left the FBI to start a family in Escondido. Neal and Marie delighted in swing and cha-cha dancing, art museums, theater, fine dining, gardening, and traveling around the world. They had a long, happy marriage. After tragically losing 3 children during difficult pregnancies, she birthed and raised two sons whom she adored, David and Jonathan.
With her beautiful soprano voice, Marie was a member of the church choir for 4 decades, first at St. Mary’s, then at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church. Practicing her Catholic faith daily was a cornerstone of her life. She was an avid reader, a fantastic gardener, and a skilled crocheter. Marie was a hard worker, and liked to unwind by swimming, walking, or doing tai chi. A devoted pet owner and animal-lover, she seemed to have a name for every bird and lizard in her garden. She had a playful funny bone, volunteered all over town, and prayed daily for those suffering and in need. An adept baker, she loved sweets and treats, especially apricots, cashews, butter pecan ice cream, and Irish soda bread. Her favorite singers were Perry Como, John Gary, Julie Andrews, and Josh Grobin, and she enjoyed watching a good TV show, performance, or film. It took little for a story or situation to make her cry, and she would apologize for being “so sensitive” as she reached for a tissue. It’s what made her “Sweet Marie” to so many friends and family.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Neal, her sons David and Jonathan, and her sister Joan Donnelly. They will miss her nurturing, her humor, her curiosity, her impeccable memory, her adorable smile, and her deep love.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Escondido on September 7th at 11 a.m. A rite of committal burial service at Oak Hill Memorial Park will take place on September 13th at 9 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Marie to Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego.
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