Nicola Theodore Avella
On July 6, 2018, Nicola Theodore Avella “Nick” passed away. He was the loving husband of 55 years to Christina Avella (nee Craig), beloved father of Alicia Squires and husband Andrew and Nicola T. Avella, Jr. and wife Leigh; cherished grandfather of Elizabeth, Andrew, Nicolas, Christopher and Alexander. Nick is also survived by his siblings Carl, Lucia and Anita and his faithful companion Trixie.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, July 9, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Sun City Center Emergency Squad at 720 Ray Watson Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
Linda Lou Casto
Linda Lou Casto, 71, passed away suddenly of natural causes in Sun City Center on June 29, 2018. She was the youngest of 12 children born to the late Neva and Bovy Casto in Philippi, W.Va.
She is survived by her two daughters, Debbie Wilson (Scott Smith) and Janis Wilson Hughes (Rob); and two grandchildren Zeke and Zora Smith. Three brothers survive her, Charles (Wanda) Casto, Keith (Doris) Casto, and Kenny Casto as well as three sisters Vivian Hope Thrasher, Shirley Louk, and Blanche (Richard) McDaniels, and many nieces and nephews. Also remaining are her dogs Remi, Phoebe and Kenmore. Linda was preceded in death by two sisters Patricia Haller and Deloris Sponaugle as well as three brothers Eugene, Edmund and Jimmy Casto, and her boyfriend Don Doyle.
Linda graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College where she studied Christian Education and Music. She was active in the United Methodist Church and led youth groups for many years making lasting impacts on many people. Throughout her life she lived in West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona and Tennessee before moving to Florida in 1997. In addition to the church, she worked in human resources and as a social worker at Plaza West in Sun City Center.
Linda was a vibrant woman filled with love and vitality. She touched countless lives through her dedication to caring for anyone in need from family members, neighbors, and friends to homeless people and animals. She kept care packages with food and toiletries in her car to share with the homeless, rescued dogs and worked as a dog walker in retirement. She fiercely loved her daughters and helped both overcome major illnesses. Linda was accomplished in sewing from a young age and continued to sew gifts like quilts and baby blankets for friends and family. She took great joy in creativity and was always working on a new project. She loved camping, gardening, visiting the beach, fossil hunting and relaxing on her porch in warm night air with her dogs next to her and a good book to read.
Linda’s smile would light up a room with rays of light and love, and she shared her inner joy constantly with everyone around her. She had a strong faith and expressed her gratitude for even the smallest of God’s gifts every day. Linda’s life and love touched so many. Her support and strength enabled countless others to thrive and better share their own gifts. She leaves behind a legacy through her example of living a life centered in love, compassion and joy.
A celebration of life will be held at United Methodist Church of Sun City Center at 1210 Del Webb Blvd. in Sun City Center, Fla. on Saturday, July 14, at 3:30 p.m. Interment will follow in Philippi, W.Va. the last weekend of July (details TBD). In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Linda’s name to Critter Mama Rescue (www.crittermamarescue.org) or the animal rescue of your choice.
Audrey Jane DeMara
On July 6, 2018, Audrey Jane DeMara passed away. She is the beloved wife of 54 years to Richard DeMara; loving mother of Gregory and Wendy; cherished grandmother of Gregory, Kasey and Sterling; dear sister of Dorothy Anderson.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Tennessee.
Eleanor L. Foley
Eleanor L. (Potter) Foley, 91, formally of Millbrook, N.Y., passed away in Sun City Center, Fla. on July 2, 2018. She is predeceased by parents Nora and Obed Potter; siblings Bill, Lynn, and Louise (Potter) Chadwell; and daughter Bonnie. She is survived by children Karen and Tom; grandchildren Steven Quimet, Michael Foley and Monica Jackson; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Eleanor was a longtime resident of Duchess County and an employee of IBM.
She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Fishkill Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to the National Cremation & Burial Society, Ruskin, Fla.
Ronald G. Howard
Ronald G. Howard, 77, of Ruskin, Fla. passed away on June 25, 2018. Ron was born in New Jersey where he lived until moving to Ruskin, Fla. in 2006 with his wife Margaret “Margo” Howard (McMahon).
He is survived by his wife Margo; his loving children, Ron (Michelle) of North Carolina, Donna (Paul Henry) of Florida, Don (Shirley) of Maine, and Debbie (deceased) of California; his grandchildren Candis Genovese, Jessica, Stephanie, Anthony and Jade; seven great-grandchildren; his sister, Barbara Howard, SSJ of St. Joseph’s Villa in Flourtown, Pa.
Ron worked at Mason’s, UPS, and S&W Waste in New Jersey before retiring.
Ron and Margo found Heaven on Earth at Riverside Club in Ruskin: Many dear friends, beautiful weather, boating, golfing, and an active social life. Summers at the lake in Maine with family and friends made life complete.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church, Ruskin Fla. on Thursday, July 12, at 11:30 a.m.
Anne LaPiana
Mrs. Anne Leilani (Hutchinson, Bosco) LaPiana, born on November 14, 1939, in Rochester, New York, passed away at age 78 on July 6, 2018, in Sun City Center, Florida. Anne left us much too soon after a short battle with an unknown heart condition.
She was an employee at Wegmans until retiring in 2002. Anne is survived by her adoring husband Joseph (Joey) LaPiana. She is also survived by her son Gregory Bosco; daughter Christina Scribani; stepson Joseph LaPiana; stepdaughters Lori (Phil) Barbeau and Robyn LaPiana; brother Terrance (Darlene) Hutchinson; stepbrothers Michael (Connie) Hutchinson and Larry (Cheryl) Hutchinson; stepsisters Patricia (Dwayne) Masters and Bonnie (Scott) Ellis; grandchildren Haley and Alana Scribani, Daniel (Tina) LaPiana and Emily (Matthew) Parsons; great-grandchildren Lexi, Devin, Emma and Autumn; nieces Shannon Stewart and Riley Kay; and nephew Shawn Hutchinson.
To everyone she met, Anne was an angel on earth. She will be greatly missed by her extended families and many friends. The family invites donations in Anne’s name to the Association of the Blind & Visually Impaired (ABVI). Arrangements entrusted to the National Cremation & Burial Society. To leave a special condolence please visit www.nationalcremation.com/location/ruskin
Lillian T. Marinello
On June 26, 2018, Lillian T. Marinello passed away. She was the beloved wife of Anthony Marinello, loving mother of William, Michael, Theresa and Megan; cherished grandmother of Erin and Michael, great-grandmother of Lillian; dear sister of Kevin, Shelagh and Kevin. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
A Mass will be celebrated at Prince of Peace Catholic Church at noon on Saturday, July 14, 2018.
Interment to follow in New York. Arrangement by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
David Eugene Welsh
David Welsh passed away June 28, 2018, at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, Florida following a short but devastating illness.
David was born August 8, 1942, in Darby, Pennsylvania to David Gilbert and Emma Louise Welsh. Upon graduation from Marple, Newtown High School in Pennsylvania, David attended Michigan State University for three years before enlisting in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged in 1966 and went on to complete his undergraduate and graduate education in English and English Literature at Long Island University. With no teaching jobs available at that time, David did his life’s work in educational administration at the New York City Board of Education in Brooklyn. He retired in 2000 to Sun City Center, Florida.
David was a member of the LynBrook-Massapequa Lodge, as well as a member and past President of the Sun City Center Shrine Club. He was also a member of the SCC Scottish Rite Club, the SCC Men’s Chorus, and the South Shore Poets Club. For many years David was Santa Claus for the Shrine Club’s Children’s Christmas party, and he was known to reign as King Henry VIII at various Halloween parties and Red Hat events.
David is survived by his much-loved son, Adam David, his brother, Todd Richard, two nieces and his life partner of 23 years Lois Toeppe.
Marie Wilmouth
Marie Wilmouth, 93, passed away peacefully on June 26 at Cypress Creek Assisted Living where she lived for the past seven months. Born in Bardwell, Ky., she married J.R. Wilmouth in 1946 and moved to Chicago suburbs to raise their family for 30 years. They retired and returned to Bardwell in 1978. After J.R.’s death in 1998, she moved to Sun City Center in 2001.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, her parents Roy and Ila Boyd and all of her siblings, including her sister Wilma just recently. She is survived by their three children: Jim (Vickie) of Tampa, Fla., Tom (Pam) of Minneapolis, Minn. and Sandra (John) of Sun City Center, Fla. Also four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Marie and J.R. enjoyed traveling, especially several trips out West, and to Alaska and Hawaii. They also spent much time in Florida and Minnesota visiting family. They were blessed with many lifelong good friends.
She loved the year-round sunshine and warmth, blooming flowers and bushes, tropical flowers and lush greenery here in Florida. She liked the beach and the white puffy clouds. She enjoyed playing pinochle several times per week, the walking pool and sunsets with neighbors. She was a longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church.
A visitation at 6 p.m. and a memorial service at 7 will take place at Sun City Center Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 18.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
