Mary Margaret Amrein

Mary M. Amrein 3/27/1928 - 11/24/2025 Obituary Mary Amrein, ne Mary M. Fiffick passed away peacefully in her sleep after an extended illness. She was born in Fifficktown, Cambria County, PA to Eastern European immigrants, Anne E. Anderko and Andrew T. Fiffick, Sr. from areas that fluctuated among Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungarian control. She grew up during the historic eras of the Great Depression, WWII and the Korean Conflict. She was the oldest girl in a family of nine children. Her sister, Alicia Fox, survives her, while her other sisters (Ethel, Shirley and Eleanor) and brothers (Andrew, John, Emil and Edward) predeceased her. Her life was one of dedication to her faith, her family,and friends. Mary was destined to be a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother to her own family and to all she met, after years of practice helping her mother caring for her siblings and the household. She learned early in life to give, share, go without and be thankful for all she had. Her gifts to all she encountered were her hard, productive work, generosity of spirit, and a special dedication to the welfare of babies and children, whether her own family or those of friends and strangers. There was not a plea for funds that came to her from an orphanage, hospital, school or children's home that she did not donate what she could, no matter how small the amount. She was also known as the "dollar" Baba (Bubba or grandmother) to the children of her family, friends and neighbors as she would send a birthday card to all on her list throughout the year with a dollar bill inside. Besides helping her mother with the household chores, and caregiver of her siblings, Mary found a way to supplement the family's income as a young and pre -teen. With her four brothers away during WWII serving in the armed forces, she got a job which paid the family by working with the beginnings of the CCC, a program that helped fill the jobs left behind by those serving the country, with the help of young people too young to serve. She was transported by train to places as far away as Connecticut and Michigan to pick cherries and sew tobacco for it to dry. She also was promoted to a dorm monitor who organized the cleanliness and orderliness of the dorms and its young residents because of her experience with those jobs growing up at home. She married Ronald Brummert (deceased) and had her two daughters (Karen and Renee). The family moved to NJ for better job opportunities, where Mary began working at Johnson & Johnson in Plaster of Paris bandage production. Gradually, she grew from manufacturing jobs at J&J to Quality Control conducting organoleptic panels (to assure product's taste, smell and appearance were of a consistent quality) to Laboratory Tech at Johnson & Johnson Research. Mary met and married Joseph Amrein (deceased) her husband of 40 years who also worked for Johnson & Johnson. They both retired from Johnson & Johnson after lifelong careers there and moved to Florida in 1983 where they joined the Queen of Peace (QOP) parish at its inception. Mary's many friends ,over 43 years in Gainesville, became her extended family, for which she was forever grateful. She served as a willing volunteer for many church and community activities and functions. She worked as a gift shop volunteer at NE Florida Hospital for many years as well as the gift shop at QOP. She cherished her Parish activities and was a member of the choir, helped with funerals, receptions and was active in the Golden Gators and Joy Group. She especially enjoyed the camaraderie of the gatherings after daily Mass with longtime friends. Mary is survived by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. Her immediate family has also grown through the years to include children: Renee, Karen A, Judy, Karen, and Joseph (deceased); grandchildren Peter, John, Gina, Katie, Korey, Kasey, Shevonne, and Shayna; great grandchildren: Jaclyn, Samantha, Colton, Sia, Emmette, Aiden, Cole, Mae, Sydney, Michael and Gabriel. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite children's charity or leave a memory on the tribute wall in Mary's Obituary page

Mary Margaret Amrein

March 27, 1928 - November 24, 2025