Mary "Charlene" Gatz Reis, of Bethel, CT, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2024, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Lafayette, LA on July 1, 1944 and grew up in Baton Rouge, LA where she attended St. Joseph's Academy and then Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and graduated with a degree in Political Science. While at LSU, she met her future husband Joseph "John" Reis III and the two were married on July 23, 1966 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, LA. Charlene lived in several states before settling in Bethel, CT where she worked as the office manager at Orthopedic Associates of Western CT and enjoyed being active in her local community.

As a member of the League of Women Voters and a poll worker, she helped to run local elections in Bethel for many years. Charlene was an active member of St. Mary's Church in Bethel, CT,  the Danbury CT chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as well as volunteering for a local hospice organization. Charlene was an avid reader who loved to travel, spend time with family and friends, and support her favorite teams—the UCONN women's basketball team and the New York Yankees.

She is survived by her husband John Reis of Bethel, CT and her five children: John Charles Reis and his wife Tania of Erie, PA; Eva Reis Stanton and her husband Christian of Pembroke, MA; Mary Reis Moravec and her husband Raymond of Eldersburg, MD; Laurence Reis of Towson, MD; and Lesley Reis Yeung and her husband Peter of London, England. She is also survived by her brother Leslie Gatz and his wife Jean of Baton Rouge, LA; her sister-in-law Mary Ann Reis of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; her grandchildren: Cassie, Justin, Lina, Greyson, Benjamin, Devon, Lindsay, Adelaide, Ronan, and Evelyn; her great grandchildren Liam and Landon; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

She is preceded in death by her sister Laura Deavers and her husband Robert as well as by her parents Charles and Margaret Gatz.

Visitation to be held at Crouse Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. 133 East Third Street Williamsport, PA 17701 on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 between 8:30 and 9:30 am.

Funeral services will be held at St Ann Catholic Church, 1220 Northway Rd., Williamsport, PA on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Wildwood Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to St. Joseph's Academy, 3015 Broussard Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, or a charity of your choosing.

To share a memory or sign an online register book, please visit www.crousefuneralhome.com.