Marie Boersma Obituary

Marie Antonette Boersma, of Naples, Florida, passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2025, at The Arlington of Naples, where she resided with her husband of 77 years, Burton Harry Boersma.
Marie was born on October 21, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was one of five children born to Antoinette and Saverio "Sam" Scalzo. Marie and Burt met at The Marigold dance hall, and they eloped on November 26, 1947. Marie and Burt's love of dancing continued for many decades. It was not unusual for other couples to stop dancing just to watch them.
In her youth, Marie had a successful career as a seamstress and, with a friend, opened Marie & Marni's Dress Shop in Minneapolis. She continued to supplement the family income by taking in custom sewing, including draperies and upholstery.
With the birth of her first child, Christine Marie, Marie dedicated her life to being a loving mother, grandmother, and ultimately, a great-grandmother. The latter affectionately called her Granmarie. When two of her grandchildren, then five and six, lost their mother due to cancer, Marie and Burt moved to Raleigh for their son and grandchildren's sake.
Marie enjoyed gardening, playing bridge, and bird watching, teaching those skills to any child who cared to learn. And she wasn't afraid to learn new things herself – she took up cross-country skiing in the 1970s and learned to play golf in the 1980s. When Burt's career took them to the Northeast, she even learned to maneuver the family station wagon with a boat in tow so that her boys could enjoy the use of the boat during the week while Burt was at work.
Marie's determination was a force that Burt often called his "secret weapon and greatest asset," entertaining and winning over clients throughout his long and successful career in magazine publishing, accompanying Burt on a number of trips to Australia and Korea. She accomplished this while raising five children and moving the family to wherever Burt's ambitions took them: Des Moines; Wheaton, IL; Devon, PA; and Westport, CT. In each new community, she became involved in the PTA, newcomers' clubs, and the local Catholic Church. She volunteered at the soup kitchen and served as a eucharistic minister at St Luke's Church in Westport and in each of her parishes since.
Marie loved getting to know new friends and neighbors, often over a glass of wine. A feisty and vibrant social butterfly, she made many lifelong friends. She cherished the rich relationships she cultivated at Wyndemere Country Club and at The Arlington of Naples. The Arlington staff held a special place in her heart.
The greatest love in Marie's life was her husband, and she would do all she could to support him. She continued to advise him and her children well into her 100th year. When Marie and Burt's parents learned of their elopement, they proclaimed, "This will never last!" Seventy- seven years later, Marie was still laughing about that! Theirs was a true love that defied all odds.
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