Susan Menne Blake
Susan Menne Blake, 60, of Ruskin, Fla., passed away November 8, 2014. Susan will always be remembered as a loving mother, amazing grandmother and devoted sister. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Blake.
Survivors include daughter Jennifer Gordon; son Christopher Blake; grandchildren Casey, Andrew, Kyle, Angelica and Matthew; sisters Patricia (Don) Soltysiak and Dianne (Don) Scheck; brother Rick (Bev) Menne; and her faithful canine companions, Libby and Doogie.
Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Dr., Sun City Center, Fla.
Gloria Christine Dering
Gloria Christine Dering (Chris) died peacefully on October 20, 2014, in Sun City Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 80 years old.
Chris is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Gus Dering, her children and their spouses: Michelle and John Hegeman, Jacksonville; Lynn Kelly, Sun City Center; Robin and George Rose, Ruskin; and Gus and Victoria Dering of Santa Rosa, Calif. Chris is also survived by grandsons Kyle and Joel Hegeman, and Gus Dering; great-grandchildren Joel Jr, Sammy, Isabella and Jake Hegeman, and sisters Mary Ann Martin, Lana Burke and Linda Cox.
Chris was born Nov. 9, 1933, in Plant City, Fla., where she grew up and graduated high school. After marriage, she moved to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where she and Gus raised their four children. She worked at Sears as an auditor.
After retirement, she and Gus settled in Sun City Center, where they enjoyed many years of retirement.
Chris gave freely of herself and time. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her laugh came easy and often. She loved a good story, golf and cocktail hours with friends and family. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Services will be held at a later date. LifePath Hospice took wonderful care of Chris in her last days. Please consider a memorial donation in her name to LifePath’s parent nonprofit company, Chapters Health, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300 West, Temple Terrace, FL 33637.
Steven Slater
Steve Slater, 74, of Valencia Lakes, Wimauma, Fla., passed away November 3, 2014. He is survived by his wife Elaine, family and friends.
Per his wishes, an anatomical donation to science was made.
Memorial services will be at a later date in Missouri.
Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home.
Joseph Surrusco
Joseph Surrusco, 76, of Kings Point, Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Monday, November 3, 2014.
Born in Manhattan, N.Y., August 19, 1938, Joe dedicated his life to his family. He worked for 16 years at General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy, Mass. Joe and his wife Jane lived in Lakeville, Mass., where he was a Lieutenant on the Lakeville Call Fire Department. All three of his children joined him and served as call firefighters.
Joe and Jane moved to Florida in 1985. Joe enjoyed many years of motorcycle riding, hunting, boating and fishing. Golf-cart riding replaced the motorcycles when Joe and Jane moved to Kings Point in 2001. Joe’s greatest joy was family gatherings with his children and granchildren and family.
He will be remembered most for his generous heart and many words of “wisdom” and as “Mr. Fix-it.” You would see Joe most Friday nights at San Remo’s Pizza with his family.
Joe leaves behind the love of his life, and wife of 53 years, Jane; children James Surrusco (Lora), Donna Surrusco Buttermore (Michael), and Roxanne Surrusco Hujar (Jerry) ; grandchildren Patrick Buttermore (Glenda), Trisha Buttermore, Dillon Hujar and Rachel Surrusco.
He will be greatly missed by brother Charles Surrusco and his wife Rosemarie of New Jersey, brother-in-law Bill Post of New York, and sister-in-law Evelyn Villa of Kings Point.
A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 702 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center.