Marguerite Dainty-Gerrick of Spring Hill, Florida, left this life at the age of 97 on March 23rd, 2024 with loving family by her side. She was born Marguerite Marie Atwood on August 8, 1926 in New Hartford, Connecticut. Her family lived in New Hartford and Collinsville when she was a child.

Marguerite was married to Clifford Dainty in 1944. They were introduced by her parents who had met Cliff, a young war Veteran, and thought they'd make a great match. The couple apparently agreed as they married and settled in Canton where they raised their four children. When Clifford's war injuries from WWII prevented him from working regularly, Marguerite quickly stepped into the workforce, with determination, to support their family. Marguerite worked hard all her life, operating her own clothing store out of her home, taking over Cliff's janitorial job at the school, gaining work at the grocery store deli, and ending the last thirty plus years of her career as a dental assistant in Avon, CT, within the practice of her dear friend and colleague, Dr. Alan Pasternak.

Clifford died on April 4th, 1969. Marguerite married again in 1974 to Peter Gerrick. They were both widowed when they met and enjoyed a deep love and appreciation for each other for 36 years, enjoying the sweetness of retirement in Stuart, Florida before Pete's passing on March 21, 2011 at the age of 95.

Throughout her 97 years, Marguerite exhibited a zest for life. Her life and actions were based in service to others. Marguerite loved to knit for her family, friends, and people in need were recipients of sweaters, blankets, and deeply cherished prayer shawls. She also made caps for newborn babies at the local hospital where she volunteered for years in the gift shop. When she wasn't doing that, she was braiding mats for homeless people so they would not have to sleep directly on the ground. She whipped up soups and desserts for delivery to friends, taught children to read in a local school and led the Sunshine Club in her St. Lucie Falls community, sending cards, flowers and gift baskets on all occasions. She said her rosary daily, kept people on her prayer list and offered up novenas when times were most dire. Throughout her 97 years, she maintained relationships with young and old, friends and relatives. She never stopped learning or teaching, and her sharp wit kept everyone around her on their toes, whether playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, texting messages, memorizing all the names of her favorite sports players, or testing your memory of her favorite Hallmark movies. One of her greatest joys in life came from finding her long-lost British relatives and making an unforgettable trip to England to meet her cousin Judy and see her family's roots.

Marguerite slipped quietly and peacefully away, leaving her four children and their spouses: Janet Cswercko and husband, Steve of Florida; Joyce Dainty-Tallmadge and husband, Tom of South Carolina;  James Dainty and wife, Helen of Tennessee; and Mary Dainty-Moulton and husband, Dean of Vermont. Marguerite's children, eleven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and a multitude of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends are so blessed to have memories and stories to share about this strong, resilient, and loving woman for years and years to come.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 27th, 11:00 am, at St. Mary's of Our Lady of Sorrows in Masaryktown, Florida. The family will also be planning a Celebration of Life on September 7, 2024 at 11am at St. Patrick's Church in Collinsville, CT.  This will be followed by an Interment Ceremony at Calvary Cemetery in Collinsville.