Theresa Block
Theresa Block, August 18, 1962 – April 14, 2019, passed away peacefully at her home at Villa D’Este in Ruskin, Fla., with her loving family surrounding her.
Theresa was born in Bennington, Vermont, and lived with her mother, Priscilla Weir; her father, Charles Weir; along with her sister, Carolyn Weir Selner, and two brothers, Daniel and Jerome.
Theresa graduated from Mount Anthony High School in 1980 and was initiated by Phi Theta Kappa into the National Honor Fraternity in 1988. In 1991 she graduated from The Wilmington College in Delaware with a degree in Criminal Justice and was certified as a Delaware Probation and Parole officer. In 2016 Theresa retired from the Department of Corrections, receiving an Office Commendation award from the Director of Probation and Parole.
Theresa is remembered for her sincere graciousness and for her smile, kind words and genuine concern for everyone she met.
Theresa is survived by many who love her: her son, Chase Block; her mother, Priscilla Weir Mixon; stepfather, Stephen M. Mixon; sister, Carolyn Weir Selner; brother’s, Daniel Weir and Jerome Weir; stepsister, Leslie Mixon Vigil; life companion, Rodney Miles, of 26 years; nephew’s, Ethan Selner, Nathan Selner, and Austin Selner; and niece, Kristen Marie Selner.
Family and close friends celebrated Theresa’s life at her mother’s home on April 25.
Roger C. Benoit
Roger C. Benoit of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Barre, Vt., passed away March 6, 2019.
Family and friends may leave a memory or message of condolence by visiting the online obituary at www.zipperersfuneralhome.com.
Susan Detweiler
A celebration of life for longtime Apollo Beach resident Susan “Sue” Dickenshied Detweiler will be held Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 10 a.m. at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 1015 Del Webb Blvd. E., in Sun City Center.
Sue passed away peacefully on April 12, 2019, at home in Sun City Center. She was born in Pontiac, Mich., on June 13, 1950. She attended Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Mich., and Michigan State University, where she studied anthropology and was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. After her marriage to Dr. Edwin “Tex” Detweiler, she helped her husband set up and run his family medical practice and raised her two sons, Dr. Edwin “Boomer” Detweiler III of Apollo Beach and Richard Travis Detweiler of Tampa.
The Detweiler family shared many wonderful adventures with family and friends, including
skiing, fishing and boating trips and weekend and summer getaways on their boat and at their summer home in Avalon, N.J. While her sons were growing up, Sue’s kitchen was always open to all of the their many friends for a quick snack or meal. In 1995 the family moved from Cedars, Pa., to Apollo Beach, where Sue embarked on a successful career as a realtor, working at Plevel and Weichert realty companies.
Throughout her life, Sue was a loving caregiver. She gave generously of her time to family and friends, as well as to organizations, including Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania, which her sons attended; P.E.O. Chapter AM in Tampa and P.E.O. Chapter II in Apollo Beach, of which she was a founding member; and St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Sun City Center, where she volunteered. She was also a member of the Apollo Beach Women’s Club.
Sue’s immediate family always remained her pride and joy. In addition to her sons, Sue will be missed dearly by her mother, Martha “Petey” Dickenshied, of Sun City Center; sister, Carol “Punky” Martin, of Baltimore, Md.; and daughter-in-law, Amy Dupree Detweiler, and grandchildren Tanner and Taylor, all of Apollo Beach.
She was preceded in death by her husband “Tex” Detweiler, brother Mark Dickenshied, and father Richard Dickenshied.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the St. John the Divine Building Fund in Sun City Center. An online “Life Tributes” page is also available to sign at www.zipperersfunderalhome.com.
Roger L. Gerard
Roger L. Gerard, 82, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019. Roger was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, to Reginald M. Gerard and Genevieve S. (Danisienka) Gerard. He was a graduate of Gardner High School and Northeastern University. At Northeastern he was a Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG), who then entered active duty with the U.S. Army. Captain Gerard was honorably discharged, having served with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 187th Infantry Brigade, 18th Airborne. He then earned his MBA at Northeastern University.
He leaves behind a son, Scott C. Gerard, of Missoula, Montana; daughter Lisa L. Gerard, (Lorena Pankotai) of Riverview, Florida; step-daughter Susan D. Pastirik of Dunn, North Carolina; and numerous other stepchildren, stepgrandchildren, stepgreat-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 46 years, Dr. Joyce “Ann” (Howard) Gerard; younger brothers Ronald H. Gerard of Seville, Spain; and Raymond Gerard of Columbia, South Carolina, as well as his parents.
He made a career in international business relations,his work taking him to all corners of the globe, from Silicon Valley, California, to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Working overseas meshed perfectly with his love of travel. He was also a lifelong New England Patriots fan and an avid reader, who enjoyed skiing, investing and genealogy. In fact, he donated part of his ancestral family home, Gerard Island, Nova Scotia, to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust in order to preserve the Island for future generations.
In the latter years of his life, after losing his beloved Ann, he devoted his time to establishing the Dr. Ann Gerard Fellowship Fund at two universities where she had formerly taught: Santa Clara University, where she was a tenured professor, and Boston College.
Per his wishes there will be no funeral or memorial services.
In lieu of flowers please donate to a pet rescue of your choosing as Roger was an animal lover who also leaves behind his best friend, a Burmese cat named Alfie.
Norma Gillespie
Norma Gillespie, age 88, passed away on April 17, 2019, in North Carolina. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 4, 1931, she married her high school sweetheart Clark on November 11, 1950. They moved to Homewood, Illinois where they raised four children: Deb, Clark, Carol and Joanne, in a house that Clark built. After retirement the couple moved to Florida to get away from the harsh Chicago weather.
Preceded in death by her son Clark T. Gillespie, husband Clark F. Gillespie, and brother Jim (Mary Lou) Lavin, she is survived by daughters Deb (Bob) Lovell, Carol (Brian) Drendel, Joanne (Dirk) Benson, nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Norma made countless friends wherever she lived. She lived in Kings Point in Sun City Center, Florida, for over 20 years and leaves behind many friends who will lovingly remember her kindheartedness and great sense of humor.
A memorial service is being held on June 15 at Heartland Community Church in Rockford, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society at donate3.cancer.org.
James Severn
James (Jim) Severn, 73, of Sun City Center, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Friday, April 19, 2019. Jim was a U.S. Air Force Veteran who was stationed in Cambodia while serving.
Survivors include his wife Martha of 15 years; sons Neal, Scott, Doug; and stepdaughters Deanna, Dawn and Wendy.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Sun City Christian Center, 17566 U.S. 301 S., Wimauma, FL 33598. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sun City Christian Center at the above address.
Jim’s mission in life was to make people laugh and smile!
Pauline R. Yannotti
Pauline R. Yannotti, 85, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away on April 19, 2019. She was predeceased by her first husband, Walter J. Huebner.
Pauline is survived by her husband, William J. Yannotti Jr.; daughters Lisa (Larry) Weeks, Karen Goclon, Noreen (John) Huebner, and Cynthia (Larry) Crane, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 1 p.m. at St. John Divine in Sun City Center, Fla.
