Jane J. Abramowski
Jane J. Abramowski, 90, passed away in Sun City Center on February 22, 2015. She was born in June 1924, to Vincent and Wanda (Okula) Gorzelski and raised on Long Island in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
After graduating from high school, she met her sweetheart, Robbie, and they were married in 1944. They moved to Hicksville, N.Y., where they started their lives together. Her administrative career soon changed to homemaker and farmer’s wife when Carol arrived 15 months later, followed by Irene in 1950. In 1954, they moved “east” to their farm in Mount Sinai, N.Y., where they grew spinach, lettuce and cabbage for the East Coast markets. Bobby soon came along and the house in Mount Sinai became the focal point of her life until they made the permanent move to Sun City Center in 1988.
Bowling was her love for many years but it changed to the small ball and the world of golf in her mid-40s, which later prepared her for the many memorable good times and outings in SCC. Locally, she was a member of the Polish Heritage Club and the Council of Catholic Women.
Jane loved her animals, too. It started with the farm cats she fed daily, and the two house dogs, Spotty and Sirloin. In SCC, it changed to ducks and birds, including the two ducks that were named after the youngest grandkids. They came to her backyard for years for their little daily snack. The smile it brought to her face will be remembered always.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years (2005); her daughter Carol Abramowski Mason (2002); and Carol’s husband John (2007). Jane was also the youngest and last surviving family member of eight siblings (seven girls and one boy).
She is survived by daughter Irene Borchers (Glenn); son Robert (Cynthia); grandchildren Aron Mason (Melissa), Nicole Abramowski, Jessica Borchers and Michael Abramowski; and great-grandchild Caroline Mason.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on March 14, 2015, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center. A burial service will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to your local Humane Society or to the American Heart Association at 11207 Blue Heron Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33716.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Denise Fillmon
Denise Fillmon (Johns), 59, of Tampa Bay area, passed away on February 15, 2015. Our precious “Niece” was called by the Lord, reunited with her beloved daughter Tara. A treasured soul, Denise was loved by all whom she touched through her life. Beloved mother, sister and grandmother.
Denise is survived by her loving family: children Lindsey and Justin Fillmon; sisters Ellyn Spieler, Sandra Johns and Marilyn Buss; and grandchildren Thalia and Alena.
Words cannot describe her and time cannot replace her. Forever Loved.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Ruskin on Saturday, March 7.
Jeanette Marie Rowan
Jeanette Marie Rowan, 77, of Sun City Center, Fla., made her ascension from our Earth January 24, 2015.
Jeanette is survived by husband Bill Redding and their faithful canine companion Amber. Jeanette was born in Waukegan, Ill., November 11, 1937. She spent most of her life in northern Illinois until she and Bill moved to Sun City Center in 2000. Jeanette graduated from Waukegan High School in 1955, and then went to work for Illinois Bell Telephone in an administrative role.
In her spare time, Jeanette was an avid golfer and bowler, but her real passion was sports car racing. After Jeanette purchased her first Austin/Healy, she was hooked and became the first woman to join the Northern Illinois Sports Car Club, riding rallies and circuits with them in the Midwest.
Jeanette eventually landed an administrative job with NICASA (Northern Illinois Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse) until she realized her true calling was to help people with addiction problems. In her spare time, Jeanette went back to school and got her certification as a drug and alcohol counselor as well as a biofeedback specialist. Jeanette loved her work and did this until she and Bill moved to Sun City Center.
Jeanette, having been on a spiritual path for some time, found it easy to get involved with the Metaphysical Society of Sun City Center, Unity Community of Joy Church of Ruskin, and First Unity Church of St. Petersburg.
Jeanette was loved and admired by her family and friends for her sweet, loving and giving nature. Her presence will be missed, but her spirit will live on in all our hearts.
There will be a celebration of Jeanette’s life at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015, at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jeanette’s memory may be directed to LifePath Hospice of Sun City Center and C.A.R.E. Critter Adoption and Rescue Inc. of Ruskin.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Jerome ‘Jerry’ Rutkowski Sr.
Jerome Rutkowski, age 76, of Sun City Center, Florida, passed away February 18, 2015, after complications from a brief illness.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Judith Cunard, and his parents, Frank and Mary Rutkowski, of Kingston, Pa. He is survived by sons, Jerry (Donna), of Virginia, and Jim of New York; four grandsons; sister Janice (Jim) Connelly, of Georgia; companion Maureen Kaiser of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
Jerry enjoyed a long professional career at Bendix and CAE-Link, as first a Drafter and then a Project Administrator in the defense contracting industry. He is originally from Kingston, settled in Endwell, N.Y., then retired to Sun City Center. He enjoyed several clubs and activities at the Sun City Center Community Center, volunteered with the Security Patrol, and worked part time at Publix grocery store.
Jerry will be most remembered and revered as a kind and selfless man who put others’ needs above his own. His inner circle frequently heard his motto, “Clean house, trust God and help others,” and he embodied this principle by performing countless compassionate tasks to help and uplift other people. Jerry enjoyed gardening, fishing and spending time with friends and family.
His life will be celebrated at a Funeral Mass at noon on March 6, 2015, at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church, 106 11th Ave. NE in Ruskin. Family will receive friends and share memories at a reception after Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to the nonprofit musical group, The Front Porch Pickers, whose music gave Jerry great enjoyment: The Front Porch Pickers, c/o 1409 Fox Hills Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573. There will also be a memorial service in Kingston, Pa., in late March.
Natalie J. Tryon
Natalie J. Tryon, 85, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away February 23, 2015. She was born in Tacoma, Wash., on September 1, 1929, to the late Frank and Virginia Stone of St Petersburg Beach, Fla. She graduated from Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest, Ill., and attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis.
She was past Regent of Colonel George Mercer Brooke Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter, President of the Sun City Center Investment Club, Co-President of Sun City Center Audubon Club, a member of the Sun City Center Photo Club, a volunteer for the Sun City Center Security Patrol and a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Virginia Stone, and by her half-brother, Robert Dale Stone. Survivors include her husband of 64 years, Bill Tryon; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Carol Tryon; daughters and sons-in-law Randi and Jeff Reynolds and Melinda and Michael Tunner; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612 or St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 Del Webb Blvd. West, Sun City Center, FL 33573.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Frederick Werner Jr.
Frederick Werner Jr. died peacefully at his home in Sun City Center, Florida, on February 23, 2015, at the age of 88. He previously lived in Warwick, N.Y., and Eldred, N.Y.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Eleanor, after 62 years of marriage.
He is survived by daughters Brenda W. Perkins of Sun City Center, Deborah Korwan of Monroe, N.Y., and Martha Stubing, also of Sun City Center. Six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also survive him.
He was an Eagle Scout, an Army veteran of World War II, a member of the Masonic Lodge in Middletown, N.Y., and the past vice president and beloved member of the Excelsior Sportsman’s Club Inc. in Eldred.
The family will be having private services in New York. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Lorraine Ellen Whitman
September 3, 1929 – February 25, 2015
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Lorraine Ellen Whitman on February 25, 2014; a mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She passed at South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center, Fla., of natural causes.
Lorraine was born on September 3, 1929, in Indianapolis, the daughter of the late Mary Shaw and Walter Samuel Agnew. In 1972, she moved from Indianapolis to Florida, where she worked for Hillsborough County School Security.
She was a member of South Shore United Methodist Church, and a member of the Summerfield Ladies Club. She worked as a volunteer at Summerfield Elementary School for nine years after retirement, and was involved in volunteer activities at Summerfield Community Center.
Lorraine is survived by her spouse John V. Whitman Sr.; children John V. Whitman Jr. (Marsha), Diana Diamond and Debbie Brown (Otis); and grandchildren Dawn, Shelly, Michael, Meaghan, Sarah and Cameron. She was blessed with 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday, March 13, at South Shore Methodist Church, 11525 Big Bend Road, Riverview.