Margaret Rose (Maggie) Barczak Giza was born on October 14, 1959, to Connie Morgiewicz and Joe Barczak, and later became a beloved stepdaughter of Tom Bruning. She was the feisty younger sister of Donna, with whom she shared a lifelong bond. 

Maggie grew up in Pine Island, NY, attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Florida, NY, where she proudly earned the Best Penmanship Award in the 3rd Grade and graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 1977. She continued her education at Mount St. Mary College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2015.

On September 22, 1984, Maggie married the love of her life, Steve Giza. Their story started over apple pie (IYKYK) and together they began a journey overflowing with love, laughter, adventure, and unwavering devotion.

Maggie built a meaningful and accomplished career, most recently serving as the Site Manager for Bayer Health in Whippany, NJ. For many years, she made the daily commute of nearly 100 miles round-trip. During her 18 years at Bayer, she contributed her talents across several departments including marketing, finance, and site services. Her work ethic, warmth, commitment, and professionalism earned her the deep respect of colleagues, vendors, and suppliers alike. One co-worker fondly recalled how remarkable it was that Maggie seemed to know someone at every Bayer facility—from New Jersey and Missouri to Pennsylvania and California, a reflection of the connections she built wherever she went.

Whether making pierogi for Christmas Eve dinner with the ‘Ciocis’, or dancing with her cousins at the 1983 Orange County Onion Harvest Festival, or anywhere a polka or oberek was being played, Maggie was always proud of her Polish family and heritage. As an emcee for the 1995 Festival, she announced the names of the folk dances that were being performed and had the honor of being in the parade before the festival commenced.

Without a doubt, Maggie treasured her beloved ‘Ciocis’ - Sophie Morgiewicz, Margie Sanok, and Geri Scotto, and Uncle John Barczak. Maggie adored her nieces and nephews, and held a special place for her Uncles, Ciocis, Aunts, cousins and dear friends. Family gatherings almost always turn to memories of working in the black dirt, weeding, topping onions or picking up onions in the field that didn’t get into the crate while Dziadzi Morgiewicz was driving the tractor that pulled the onion harvester.

While she could not see her stepsister and stepbrother Debbie and Thom as much as she would have liked due to distance, she stayed in contact via calls, text and social media.

Maggie was the light of her family - the party planner, the connector, the one who made every gathering shine. She was always ready for a trip, vacation, cruise, play, or concert - anything and everything that brought joy and people together. She will forever be in our hearts.

In keeping with her giving spirit, Maggie was an organ donor. Through the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, her eyes will continue to bring light into the world by granting the gift of sight to others.

Maggie was predeceased by her mother, father, and stepfather, maternal grandparents, Rose and Ken Morgiewicz, paternal grandparents Antonnette and Frank Barczak, Sr., her Godmother Theresa ‘Dolly’ Dombroski, her Godfather Joe Morgiewicz and her stepsister Laurie Bruning Connors. She is survived by her cherished first cousins and sister Donna, whom she considered her best friends, her caring stepsiblings Debbie and Thom, Ciocis and Uncle, nieces and nephews, dear friends and her loving husband, Steve.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, the largest global funder of neuroendocrine cancer research and the leading resource for expert patient education and support. https://netrf.org/