Maysie Weckesser Presti

On Sunday February 18th, 2024, Maysie Weckesser Presti passed away at age 91,

surrounded by her loving family. She was born at home on May 9th, 1932, to Lina Rosa

Spiegel and Edward Clarence Weckesser of Baltimore, Maryland. Maysie had two older

siblings, Norman and Dorothy, and a younger brother, David.

Maysie graduated from high school educated as a seamstress, a skill which came in

handy later in life when she had eight children who all needed clothes. She quickly put

another of her many talents to use working as a secretary for the Red Cross. Here she

started her lifelong passion of giving blood (giving countless donations over her lifetime)

and even crossed paths with Princess Grace Kelly. It wasn’t long before Maysie started

her life’s true work as a matriarch, and with it carried an unshakeable devotion to

everyone and everything she was a part of.

On July 28th, 1951, Maysie married the love of her life, Frederick Joseph Presti, in

Baltimore, Maryland. They quickly started a family and went on to raise eight children:

Barbara (Robert), Duane (Leigh), Linay (Bruce), David (Nancy), Barry (Georgia), Brian

(Diane), Darryl (Renee), and Janelle (Jeffrey). Her children went on to continue her legacy,

having 20 grandchildren: Shannon, Jessica (Anxo), Marissa, Robert (Sarah), Jonathan

(Jennifer), Benjamin, Christa (Doug), Matthew (Jane), John, Alexis, Samuel, Alexander,

Abigail, Tia, Annalise, Dante, Chiara, Gianna, Kelly, and Corey. Her grandchildren gave her

thirteen great-grandchildren: Xaquin, William, Caetano, Ethan, Angelina, Madison, Ryland,

Lucy, Aloia, Bradley, Bohannon, Madeline, and Evelyn.

With the beginnings of a young family, Maysie continued her passion of bringing joy to

others through her artwork. While living on Sunset Drive in Mt. Holly Springs,

Pennsylvania, Maysie discovered a love for painting. Many of her paintings are still

hanging in the homes of her family today, and inspired her children at young ages to

become artists, from painters to dancers and visionaries. Dance was another of her joyful

expressions. Watching her dance the jitterbug with Fred is a vivid memory for many. As

her family grew from a few children to eight, her responsibilities and commitments grew

as well.

Maysie moved with her family to Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1972, where her roots would

dig deep. Maysie knew home is where the heart is, no matter where they lived. Her door

and heart were always open, continuing to provide a home to all. Friends became family

under the roof of Maysie and Fred and it often happened around the dinner table. No

one was turned away and many lived under her care for years. She welcomed exchange

students from Norway and Brazil, who also became her children. A generation later, their

children would come as exchange students to live with Maysie's children, weaving

together families across generations and the globe.

It was her family that Maysie was most devoted to. There wasn't a birthday, celebration,

or event she would miss. She kept a calendar on the back of her garage door that not

even Google could rival to this day. She often hosted these events in her own home,

always making every moment special, no matter how small.

Her husband Fred led the charge into family business, and she, as Chairman of the Board,

was a dedicated part. She contributed to its many successes which would transcend the

generations of her family. She was paramount in the prosperity of the family rubber

business, dance studio, and software company.

Through her involvement with the businesses, she further fulfilled her adventurous side

by traveling the world - climbing Mount Vesuvius, transiting the Panama Canal, and

visiting her ancestral town of Michelstadt. There she made the local paper being the

great great granddaughter of the town burgermeister (who heroically saved the town

hall). Her travels took her across Europe, Asia, and North and South America. If there was

an opportunity to travel, especially when it was to see family or experience something

new, Maysie would go… and there was no stopping Maysie.

Maysie had a zest for life, one that was hard to keep up with - a zest which earned her the

nickname “Amazing Maysie.” She took her children to their first concert, a trifecta of The

Rolling Stones, B.B. King, and Terry Reid. This may have been the foundation for her

children's love of music and the performing arts.

It didn’t take a concert or special event for Maysie to “dress to the nines.” She was always

decked out in her jewels and people always complimented her style. In fact, a young

man walking by her in Las Vegas stopped, got down on his knee, and kissed her cheek.

Maysie had this effect on people wherever she went.

After the death of her first husband, Maysie married George Corrieri on August 21, 2005,

becoming stepmother to Arte Corrieri (Lorie Dubay). She loved to dance, and dance she

did. She and George spent many nights dancing together and laughing with their

friends at the VFW. Never one to shy from something new, at this point in her life Maysie

took up fishing with her son. Many evenings were spent lakeside - once even ending up

in the lake, laughing hysterically.

Maysie moved from her family home of nearly fifty years to Mercer Hill retirement

community in 2021. She quickly built a close community and once again began caring for

the people under her roof. She always had time to listen to her friends in need, and enjoy

life with those around her. She enjoyed the many activities and outings, chats around the

dinner table, bingo, and going to the movies.

Maysie truly was amazing. Amazing in her commitment to her love of life, squeezing

every drop from every moment. Amazing to the family to whom she was wife, mother,

grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to all. Amazing in her zest for

life, that so many of us strive for and can only hope to realize. A joy that is not lost from

this world, because she has shared her joy with all of us. Now, because of Maysie, we

know how to share that same love, generosity, and joy for life with everyone.

Maysie is predeceased by her first husband Frederick Joseph Presti, second husband

George Arthur Corrieri, son David Frederick Presti and daughter-in-law Nancy Hall Presti,

son Duane Edward Presti, step-son George Arthur Corrieri II, siblings Norman Weckesser,

Dorothy Drenner, and David Weckesser, granddaughter Marissa Linay Robinson, and

great-grandson Bradley David Presti.

To celebrate Maysie’s life, please consider wearing her favorite color, blue, on Monday.

Funeral Service 11:30 AM Monday February 26, 2024, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church 301 N Main St, Doylestown, PA 18901.  Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM.  Interment in Beulah Cemetery to follow the Service.

In lieu of flowers donations in her name can be made to the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or to the AJ Foundation (www.ajfoundation.org)