Marie Teresa Grueter, 97, of Port Orange, Florida, died June 29, 2026. Born July 28, 1928, in Chicago to Frank and Mary (nee Wojewodka) Kopczynski, she was the youngest of seven. She grew up on Chicago and attended St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and School. She was a member of the Aragon Ballroom 400 Club.
Marie married Roman Leo Grueter in 1955 and moved to Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1959 to raise their growing family. In 1983, they built a new home in Bohners Lake, where Marie was active in the Ladies of the Lake raising funds for lake upkeep. She prepared and preserved the abundant harvests from Roman’s garden. In 2017, they moved to Florida to be closer to three of their four children. Marie was a lifelong Cubs fan and enjoyed baking and entertaining. She was a cherished wife, mother, aunt, and “Nana”.
Marie is survived by daughters, Barbara Green and Sandra (Kenneth) Weld; son, Stephen (Jeanne) Grueter; grandchildren, Nathan (Erika) Grueter, Amanda Marie (Adam) Lemke, Tyler Grueter, Jason (Jackie) Grueter, Kenneth R Weld, and Tristan (Arianna) Weld; great-grandchildren, Logan and Colton Lemke, and Emily Marie Grueter; and dozens of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roman, and her son, Thomas (Betty) Grueter.
Mass offerings appreciated, or donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am, Monday, July 27, 2026, at St. Juliana Catholic Church, 7201 N. Oketo Avenue, Chicago. Interment will follow at St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery, 6800 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles.