Mary Elizabeth Zebel was born August 9th of 1941 to Doris and Richard Zebel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She passed on Thursday May 4th, 2023, at the age of 81 from heart failure.

She led a colorful early life while growing up on a farm with a small army of dogs, a few sheep and lots of chickens. At the age of 17 she traveled to São Paulo, Brazil with her parents to open two Arthur Murray Dance Studios. There she had a charmed life, living in both Rio and São Paulo working in the studios as an instructor. While promoting the family business on television with her father, she caught the attention of Jose Greco with whom she was asked to dance on a television program. She was also attributed with bringing the twist to Brazil when she appeared on a nationally televised program dancing with Chubby Checker. She drew lots of attention for her beauty and dancing talent. Soon her face was donning promotional billboards and magazines for Hellman’s Mayonnaise.

At age of 23, she left São Paulo permanently for Miami, married and had her two children, Richard (51) and Aileen (56) who became the center of her life.  As they grew up, most of their friends would often drop by and congregate at her house day or night, always welcomed by Mary Elizabeth. Soon, her future daughter-in-law, Jenny Kemp, came into the fold and became a close and trusted friend.

Her love for animals was only second to that of her children and four granddaughters. Never a day went by when she didn’t care for a stray pet.

In Miami she worked for forty-nine years at Van Deusen Aircraft Supplies (later Aviall Inc.) as an aircraft parts saleswoman. 

She is survived by her son Richard Haget (51), daughter Aileen Cote (56), sister Helen Zebel “Lucky”(65), and granddaughters Lauren Cote (29), Victoria Haget (12), Isabella Haget (10), and Alexandra Haget (9). She was preceded in death by her parents Doris and Dick Zebel and sister Connie who passed in São Paulo in the late 1950s.

On August 26th from 1-4pm (address to be announced)  there will be a celebration of life gathering in Miami held in her honor. Friends and family will be able to reminisce and recount all the funny and special moments shared with her. Anyone interested in attending, please contact Richard Haget via e-mail rhaget@gmail.com or text 407-350-6496 for further details.

Meanwhile, if you would like to make a donation in her honor to benefit unwanted and stray animals in the Miami area, you may do so at: Paws4You.org. Contributions to such an organization are fitting with her lifelong love of animals.

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