Marie Louise Wessel Syrett

Marie Louise Wessel Syrett, faithful servant of God and loving wife, joined all the Saints in Heaven on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. She was born on December 8, 1929 and was 91 years old.

Marie was born to the late Irma Owen Wessel and George F. W. Wessel, in Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest of three children. She attended St. Andrew's Parish School where she played basketball (State Champions for two consecutive years), was a member of the National Honor Society, and later attended St. Francis Xavier School of Nursing in Charleston and survived Typhoid while training. She married the love of her life, Francis Gordon Syrett on December 24, 1950. She was known for her work ethic, selfless care of others, and her signature red lipstick.

Nursing was Marie's life long passion, starting her career as a Registered Nurse at a TB hospital in Asheville, NC, then moved to Roper Hospital in Charleston scrubbing in as a surgical RN for a neurosurgeon. She continued her career at St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Charleston, culminating her 40+ years in nursing as Head Nurse on 4" St. Vincent's Oncology Unit. Marie's care and professionalism touched many patients. She also left a lasting impression on many future nurses and doctors through her career, who she may not have remembered them all but all would say, "Well I remember you!"

Marie was a faithful servant and devout Lutheran, and always sang in the choir. Attending St. Johannes in her youth and through Luther League she met the love of her life. Marie and Gordon were married for 69 years and were members of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, members of Holy Comforter Evangelical Lutheran Church and later charter members of Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Marie had endless energy and was always involved in an activity or organization. She enjoyed bowling, raising and showing Pembroke Welsh Corgis, gardening, sewing, embroidering, and volunteering. Marie and Gordon traveled extensively for over 35 years in their Airstream trailer throughout the lower 48 states and held multiple leadership positions in the South Carolina Coastal Unit WBCCI Airstream Club.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Irma Owen Wessel and George Frasier Wilson Wessel; her two sisters, Marlene Ruth Myers and Claire Lorraine Hopkins; and her loving husband, Francis Gordon Syrett.

Surviving are her two daughters; Deborah Marie Syrett and Virginia Syrett Martin (Mark); four grandchildren who she adored and was so very proud of, Gordon Lee Martin, Norman Bradley Syrett Fine (Amy), Amanda Marie Martin Jones (Stephen), and Benjamin Thomas Fine (Allison); her two great-grandchildren, Preston Bradley Fine, Theodore Taylor Jones; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3075 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29407 for beautification of the Prayer Garden (Rebecca) or the Alzheimer's Association.

A funeral service in Celebration of Marie's life will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Evangelical Lutheran Church.