Theresa Irene Mazziotti

Theresa “Teri” Irene Mazziotti, age 56, entered eternal life on January 13, 2023, after heroically battling ongoing health and mobility challenges. We trust she is now with her Savior Jesus Christ and reunited with family and friends who have gone before her.

Teri is predeceased by her father, Michael John Waranis, Jr. and stepfather, Donald J. Fields.

She is survived by her beloved son, Matthew Xavier Mazziotti, of Cocoa Beach, Florida. Her loving mother, Julia Waranis Fields of Blue Ridge, Georgia. Siblings: Her sister, Michele Anne Shafaat (Rizwan) of Orlando Florida, and her brother, Michael John Waranis, III, (Joyce), of Blue Ridge, Georgia. Loving niece, Alia Shafaat, and nephews Faysal Shafaat and Imran Shafaat, all of Orlando, Florida.

On September 21, 1966, Teri was the first child born to Michael and Julia Waranis of Long Island, New York.

Teri attended Deer Park High School on Long Island, and was active in competitive sports, especially AAU swim team as well as diving. Her skills with water sports served her well when the family later moved to Cocoa Beach, Florida, where she graduated from Merritt Island High School. At first, as a glamour conscious young lady, she pursued studies in cosmetology, but then changed direction and became a certified Pharmacy Technician. Before long she rose to manger position at the Eckerd Pharmacy Cocoa Beach location.

Teri was a talented artist, excelling at free-hand sketching. She was also skilled with words and enjoyed expressing herself through creative writing. Teri was especially noted for her loyalty to family, and longtime childhood friends—so much so, that her mother gave her the nickname “Warrior Princess,” when as a child, she defended her baby brother from the neighborhood bullies. Later, Teri’s “warrior” spirit would serve her well through numerous health setbacks, particularly when, as a young adult, Teri underwent amputation of her right leg. Not to be deterred, shortly after completing “rehab”, Teri could be seen defiantly zooming by on a jet ski.

The joy of Teri’s life was the birth of her son Matthew in 1988. Matthew always made his mother laugh with his wit and winning smile. The family notes how Teri would never miss Matthew’s sports competitions—or those of her niece and nephews. She loved celebrating family birthdays other milestones as well.

Teri and her sister Michele were particularly close and always supported one another through both good times and bad, joys and sorrows. Michele was especially generous in seeing Teri through many a health crisis, especially in Teri’s later years as her illness progressed.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Theresa Mazziotti will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Blue Ridge, Georgia, at 11am on Saturday, January 21, 2023. Interment on church premises is to immediately follow, with a reception held afterward in the church hall.