Susan J. Martocci

Susan Jean Weber Farotto Martocci, 86, of Gainesville, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2026, surrounded by her daughters. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Eugene and Dorothy Weber, Susan lived a rich and colorful life filled with family, friendship, adventure, hard work, generosity, and, most of all, love.

Susan's greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who built her life around the people she loved. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her world, and she cherished every moment she spent with them. She had a beautiful way of making each person feel loved, valued, and truly special. Her love was unconditional and unwavering, and she was always there when she was needed.

Susan graduated from Nerinx Hall High School in 1958 in the St. Louis area. An active student at the all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school, she participated in numerous clubs, activities, and sports, including Sodality, devoted to spiritual and charitable works. She went on to graduate from Fontbonne College as a student-athlete.

She married during college in 1961 and settled in the Clayton area of St. Louis. She welcomed her first son, Rick, in 1962, followed by Jackie in 1964 and Tricia in 1968. In 1969, the family settled in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, where Susan began a life filled with family, work, tennis, and adventure.

Susan was an accomplished and independent woman who embraced many different careers and opportunities throughout her life. She taught tennis lessons and owned My Raquet, a tennis equipment and apparel store in Indialantic. She became one of the first female high school athletic directors in the state of Florida at Melbourne Central Catholic. Her professional journey also included serving as a regional manager for a women's clothing company and a uniform company, before eventually becoming the owner of an Italian ice business at various Disney locations, convention centers, and sports venues.

Her life took her and her family to many places, including Charleston, South Carolina; Dallas; Nashville; Scottsdale; New Smyrna Beach; Tampa; Orlando; St. Augustine; and Gainesville. Wherever she lived, Susan created a life centered around family and the people she loved.

One of Susan's favorite memories was from early 1993, when she drove all night from Nashville to Tampa for the birth of her first grandson, Matthew. Over the years, Matthew was joined by nine more grandchildren and, eventually, her first great-grandchild, Ambrose. Her grandchildren brought her tremendous joy, and she cherished every moment she spent with them.

Some of her happiest memories were made during family gatherings and celebrations—birthday parties, graduations, sporting competitions, dance recitals, holidays, karaoke, and countless other occasions. Susan loved bringing everyone together and was often happily in charge of the planning, decorating, food, traditions, or whatever else was needed to make an event special. She loved creating memories that her family would carry with them for the rest of their lives.

There were trips to Waffle House, visits to aquariums, zoos, movie theaters, special adventures, everyday moments, and, of course, plenty of hugs. Susan knew her children's and grandchildren's friends well enough that they became part of her extended family, too. She had a gift for making people feel welcome and loved.

Susan will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, strength, beauty, humor, love of tennis, cheeseburgers, family traditions, being a “football fan”, and her ability to bring joy to the lives of those around her. Her generosity knew no bounds, and she lived by the belief that “It is more blessed to give than receive.”

Although Susan is no longer with us, her love lives on in her family and friends, in the stories they will tell, the traditions they will continue, and the values she instilled in all of them. Her greatest legacy was the love she gave so freely and the memories she created. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished by all who knew her—especially her grandchildren, who meant so much to her.

Susan was preceded in death by her second husband, Paul “Pete” Martocci.

She is survived by her children and their spouses, Rick (Melanie), Jackie (Jerry), and Tricia (Jerry); her ten grandchildren, Matthew, Arielle (Jordan), Michael, Caroline (Luke), Marissa, Ashley (Jake), Davis, Jake, Tessa, and Trey; and her first great-grandchild, Ambrose.

A funeral Mass will be held on September 19, 2026, at 1:30 pm, at Holy Faith Catholic Church, 747 NW 43rd ST, Gainesville, Florida, followed by a celebration of life in the Parish Life Center.

“A grandmother’s love is a gift that remains in our heart forever.”