Gerhardt, Maria Lyn, 62, of St. Petersburg, Florida went to be with the Lord late Thursday night February 5, 2026. Born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, she went to Trinity Lutheran School K-8, graduated from Springfield High School and was a graduate of Columbia College in Missouri where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1985 with an associate degree in travel administration. She worked for the City of St. Petersburg Building and Permitting department for 28 years until she retired in 2018. She is survived by her parents Stephen and Betty Gerhardt and her older sister Stephanie Lampe, along with her cousins, many close friends, her “nieces”, her precious rescue Greyhound Privy and kitty Emma.

Maria was a childhood cancer survivor who lived with short bowel syndrome her entire life. She later developed type 1 diabetes and most recently struggled with a tough recovery from pneumonia which resulted in the use of oxygen 24/7. Throughout all her health struggles she always had a cheerful smile and encouraging words for others. She loved her animals, the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Lightning, and attended many fun games with her parents and/or sister.

The family will hold a small church funeral service and a larger celebration of her life will be held on her birthday, June 4th on St Pete Beach in the SanSeair Condominium Social Room. Details regarding the June 4th will be added to the Anderson McQueen webpage when available. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Short Bowel Foundation at https://shortbowelfoundation.org/donate/ or St. Judes Children’s Hospital Research Center  or  Our Savior Lutheran Church in St Petersburg