In memory of our awesome, beloved mother!
Margaret Stoica Mihaiu
April 9, 1927 – April 18, 2025
Margaret Stoica Mihaiu of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 98, passed away in the ER at Holy Cross Hospital on Friday, April 18, 2025. Born on April 9, 1927, she had just celebrated her 98th birthday when she contracted a respiratory illness that quickly led to pneumonia and heart failure. She had long-battled COPD, congestive heart failure and severe osteoporosis but somehow managed to keep them at bay through her always cheerful, positive attitude and an awesome determination to keep moving, eat healthy, and to squeeze the most out of her life.
Margaret was the daughter of Adam Stoica and Helen Martin Stoica and grew up in Canton, OH with sisters Mary Stoica Flossie, her twin, Helen Stoica Priest, Pearl Stoica Phillips and brother Dan Stoica, all of whom predeceased Margaret. Though she was only able financially to attend community college as a young woman, she and her twin sister, Mary, were excellent students, as well as talented athletes at a time that, unfortunately, they and other women did not have the athletic and sports opportunities that exist today.
She met George Mihaiu of River Rouge, Michigan, in 1948 through their shared Romanian heritage and participation in their Romanian Orthodox church activities. George was a U.S. Army veteran, a highly-respected attorney in the downriver Detroit area and eventually served as a Municipal Judge and State District Judge for 38 years until his retirement.
They married in 1950 and had three children, George (eldest), John and Joan (twins), and Margaret dedicated herself to raising and caring for the entire family, providing warm and unconditional love and devotion to all of them. As the children grew and excelled in sports, she became an avid supporter of her children’s sports activities throughout their lives and their biggest fan. Later, with all three children attending Michigan State University and participating in Spartan sports, she became a Spartan Mom and huge fan of Michigan State football and basketball throughout her entire life. She also was the organizer of many St. George Romanian Orthodox Church fundraising activities during her years in the Detroit area. In later years, Margaret took on the responsibilities of caregiver to her husband following his disabling illness in the last few years of his life. Her loving care enabled him to live out his life in his beloved home in River Rouge, just two minutes from the home he was born in.
In 2014, her sons moved Margaret to Fort Lauderdale where they could help care for her. She lived with son John Mihaiu for six years and gleefully enjoyed beating him at their daily game of Scrabble. In Florida, she was thrilled to experience the sunshine, beaches, restaurants and fabulous weather of Fort Lauderdale and often marveled at how beautiful it was to live with the year-round ‘lush green’ of the trees, plants, flowers and landscaping, and the beautiful ocean beaches. Upon son John’s retirement from his career with DHL, he moved back to Kentucky to be with his own immediate family and Margaret lived on her own for just over two years, with her other son, George, living nearby and visiting her almost daily.
In February, 2024, after several physical and health setbacks that required her to be hospitalized for an extended period, she agreed to make the move an assisted living facility. The family chose Williamsburg Landing, which provided outstanding living assistance, medical oversight, dedicated staff and a beautiful environment which she grew to enjoy immensely. She lived at Williamsburg Landing until her death and would remark regularly to George and John about how wonderful and caring everyone on the staff at Williamsburg Landing had been to her. And she loved her west-facing windows view of the magnificent Florida sunsets, often calling George or John to express her wonder and appreciation of the beauty of the colors that could only be created by God.
In addition to Williamsburg Landing staff and management, the family would like to say a most sincere and special ‘Thank you!’ to Comfort Keepers of Fort Lauderdale, David Mahoney, for providing her years of excellent part-time, in-home care. And to Dr. Camilo Ruiz, Fort Lauderdale, her primary care physician, for his exceptional medical care, attentiveness to her special needs and friendship to all of us.
Margaret is survived by her eldest son, George Mihaiu and wife Ann Posgay Mihaiu; her youngest son, John Mihaiu and wife Betty Cook Mihaiu; daughter Joan Mihaiu; granddaughter Kate Mihaiu Ritchie, husband Michael Ritchie, and great granddaughter Lauren Ritchie; grandson Nick Mihaiu and wife Livia Viera; Nieces: Trisha Mihaiu; Peggy Priest Herbst; Barbara Priest-Kehbein; Marilyn Phillips Vogt; Judy Flossie Cheatwood; and Mary Flossie Oliverio. Nephews Ben Flossie; Bruce Flossie; Steve Phillips and many other extended family members.
She lived long and well, fought fiercely for and dearly loved her family and friends, and left a legacy of love, caring and awesome determination that she’ll always be loved for and remembered for by all who knew her. The family noted that, though Margaret was no longer able to be involved in organized church acitivities in her later years, she was a true believer in God and Jesus, and left us with hopes and prayers that her passing on Good Friday, 4/18/25, was more than a coincidence.
In accordance with her wishes, Margaret was cremated in the care of Falowski Kalis Mcintee Funeral And Cremation Services and a private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
You’ll always be with us, Mom. God bless and God speed Margaret Mihaiu unto his care.
- by George M. Mihaiu on behalf of the Mihaiu family.