Maria Theodoseau, 94, a longtime Staatsburg resident, passed away on January 6,2025 with her family at her bedside. Born in Port Chester, NY on March 28, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Ludwig and Leopoldine Fischer. She spent most of her childhood in the heart of New York City and graduated from Hunter College High School in 1948. On February 7, 1953, she married her beloved husband, Nicholas Theodoseau in Jamaica, NY. He predeceased on August 10, 1981.

Maria and Nicholas moved from Farmingdale, NY to Staatsburg, NY in 1955. While raising their family of six children, Maria attended college and graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 1973 with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught at St Mary's school in Poughkeepsie from 1973 – 1975 and then moved to Regina Coeli School in Hyde Park where she taught multiple generations of children from 1973 until her retirement in 1996. She enjoyed challenging young minds and was always interested in new technological and scientific developments.

After retirement, Maria had more time for gardening, which was one of her lifelong passions. She also enjoyed travelling with friends and. She took several tours across the United States, made trips to Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and took a Rhine River Cruise. In addition, she served as a Literacy Volunteer teaching adults to read, volunteered for many years at St. Francis Hospital in the records department, also volunteered at a local food pantry, and worked part time at the Staatsburg Library.

Maria was a parishioner of Regina Coeli Church and a member of the Altar Rosary Society for many years.

Maria is survived by her brother, Roger Fischer of Dallas, Texas, her six children: Philip and his wife Gail of Hillsboro, Oregon, Michael and his wife Cindy of Milford, Connecticut, Mary Harpley and her husband Victor of Cromwell, Connecticut, Daniel of Staatsburg, NY, Matthew and his wife Lynne of Wappingers Falls, NY and Timothy and his wife Ruth of Chandler, AZ Maria is also survived by seven grandchildren: Gwendolyn Levine, Emily Plude, Matthew Ferro, Nicholas Theodoseau, Peter Ferro, Kristopher Theodoseau and Alex Theodoseau, nine great grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Maria was predeceased by a brother, George Fischer in 2017, a granddaughter, Angela Theodoseau in 2022, and a nephew, Carl Fischer in 2021.

Calling hours will be on Tuesday January 14th from 4pm to 7pm at Sweet's Funeral Home, 4365 Albany Post Rd. Hyde Park, NY 12538.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday January 15th at 10AM at Regina Coeli Church, 2 Harvey St. Hyde Park, NY 12538.

Burial will follow at St. Peters Cemetery, Poughkeepsie.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Maria's memory to Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 80 Washington St, Suite 204, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet's Funeral Home.