Obituary of Tamara "Tammie" Marie Zoss

A TRUE INSPIRATION Ms. Tamara "Tammie" Zoss, age 67, of Henderson NV, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Nathan Adelson Hospice after a brave nine year battle with breast cancer. She shared her life with her devoted partner, Peter Doyle. Tammie was born on May 25, 1946, in Seymour, CT, daughter of the late Oscar and Caroline (George) Zoss. She spent most of her years living in Seymour where she graduated from Seymour High School. She went on to attain her BA in Legal and Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT and attended night school while working full time to earn her MBA in Legal and International Business Affairs from the University of New Haven in New Haven, CT. She worked in the legal departments of various corporations, including Philips Medical, Timex, Pitney Bowes and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority as a paralegal, manager of contracts department and contract administrator. Tammie and Peter were "snowbirds" for six years living in Las Vegas for the winters and ultimately moved to Henderson where they have resided since 2002. In 2005, Tammie was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought a strong, hard battle for the next nine years. Tammie always said that she could not have gotten through those years without the wonderful caregiving of Peter and her sister Snookie as well as the prayers and support of her many friends. A devout Christian and deeply spiritual woman, Tammie was a member of The Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Oxford, CT and of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson, NV. She traveled the world extensively with Italy, Greece and the Scandinavian countries among her favorite destinations. She enjoyed stamping, scrapbooking, singing in her choirs, playing bingo with Snookie and being the best passenger/co-pilot on Peter's motorcycles. Tammie was an inspiration to her nieces and girlfriends as she showed independence at a young age when she announced she was moving to California at age 18. She returned home and once joining the workforce, worked her way up to several executive positions until her illness. Always giving of her time, Tammie volunteered with many charities including Special Olympics and Susan G. Komen. In addition to Peter Doyle, her devoted significant other of 37 years, Tammie is survived by her loving sister and best friend, Carol "Snookie" Maiorano and her husband Philip, Jr. of Connecticut and Nevada; her nieces Dawn L. Maiorano and Nicki Maiorano and her nephew Philip Maiorano, III, all of Waterbury, CT whom she always considered "her own". She also leaves Peter's children, Stephanie Despres and her husband Roger of Guilford, CT, Peter Doyle, Jr. of Stamford, CT, and Jason Doyle and his wife Elizabeth of Easton, CT and Peter's grandchildren, Claudia and Christian Despres. Tammie's family would like to thank Dr. Anthony V. Nguyen and his outstanding team at Comprehensive Cancer Center and the doctors, nurses and staff, especially in Quad B, of Nathan Adelson Hospice for the exceptional and compassionate care shown to Tammie and her family. A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 1:00 pm at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2 S. Pecos Rd., Henderson, NV 89074. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Kraft-Sussman Funeral Home in Las Vegas has been entrusted with all Las Vegas arrangements and Maiorano Funeral Home in Waterbury, CT has been entrusted with all Connecticut arrangements. Memorial contributions in Tammie's name may be made to: Christ the Servant Lutheran Church or Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, 4141 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.