Teresa "Tess" Eileen Stritzinger

Teresa (Tess) Eileen (Shea) Stritzinger, age 94, of Middletown passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Forest Farm Health Care Center in Middletown, RI. She was a lifetime communicant of Saint Mary's Church in Newport and was devoted to her faith.Tess was born February 13, 1922, in Newport, RI, the daughter of the late Maurice and Bridget (Murphy) Shea. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert (Bob) H. Stritzinger for 53 years.Tess attended Saint Mary's Catholic School and was a 1939 graduate of Rogers High School. She met the love of her life, Bob, the same year. Three years later they were married in 1942 at Saint Mary's Church. They both worked at the Naval Torpedo Station, until Bob joined the Navy in 1944 and they moved to San Diego. After the war, they built the home of their dreams in Middletown where they raised their family.Tess was a clerk for the Middletown Public School System for over 10 years. She was a Brownie Troop leader for her daughters, a member of the Trigon Club and the Third Beach Club. She enjoyed summer beach days with friends and family, and loved to swim in the ocean and walk Second Beach. Tess and Bob were members of the Goat Island Yacht Club and enjoyed cruising the bay on their powerboat, the Christer. Tess was an accomplished seamstress and loved reading, cooking and traveling. Tess and Bob had a large circle of friends and were always ready to entertain at their homes in Middletown and Naples, Florida. Tess' favorite activity, however, was spending time with her children and grandchildren.In her later years, Tess was an active member of the Middletown Senior Center until 2009 when she became a resident of Forest Farm Health Care Center. There she received the very best of care from all the wonderful staff members. Our whole family is truly grateful.She is survived by her two daughters, Christine S. Fagan and her husband Stephen G. Fagan and Teri A. Sullivan and her husband Matthew P. Sullivan all of Middletown, RI, four grandchildren, Sean Sullivan, Kelly (Sullivan) Smith and her husband James, Malia Fagan and Stephanie Fagan. She is also survived by her generous nieces, Betty Ann Maher, Gail Paranzino (and Peter), Nancy Geraghty, and Diane Ciccone and nephew, James McGrath, as well as many grand nieces and nephews.Her four siblings, Francis Shea, James Shea, Mary Geraghty, Catherine McGrath, and her nephews Robert Geraghty, James Geraghty and James Maher predeceased her.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, from 4:00-7:00pm at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.Her funeral will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 10:00 am, at St. Marys Church, Spring Street, Newport, RI. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown's Lane, Middletown.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906, or to the Forest Farm Activity Fund, 201 Forest Avenue, Middletown, RI 02842. Cemetery Details St. Columba Catholic Cemetery Brown's Lane Middletown, RI, 02842 Visitation APR 20. 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com Service APR 21. 10:00 AM St. Marys Church 12 William Street Newport, RI, US