Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Anthony (Tony) James LaRosa, Jr.


Anthony was born and raised in Glendora, New Jersey.  He graduated Triton Regional High School in 1961 and attended Rider College in Trenton, New Jersey majoring in accounting.  He married his high school sweetheart and they relocated to North Jersey where he worked as an accountant with Owens Corning Glass Manufacturing for several years.  They returned to South Jersey where he worked for Arthur Anderson in Philadelphia as an auditor.  He was then hired by Atlantic Aviation where he became managing internal auditor for 9 years in Wilmington, Delaware.  By this time they had 3 children and since his wife parents were already living in Florida and so they decided Florida would be a very good move.

Anthony then worked for Page Avjet Corp at Orlando International Airport.  This company had a unique business of restoring, designing and installing custom interiors on private corporate jets for companies all over the world.  The planes were flown to Orlando including from the Middle East where one specialty was designing and installing Thrones for the kings and princesses in middle eastern countries.

Anthony retired after 45 years in the aviation industry.  His hobbies were car racing, shooting pool, and deer hunting.  He is survived by his wife Carol, his son Anthony J. LaRosa, III and his wife Lorie (West) LaRosa, his loving daughters, Liane LaRosa, his son Daniel M. LaRosa and wife Stephanie (LeClairo) LaRosa, grandsons Logan, Matthew and Braden James LaRosa.  Sister Josephine Spina of Blackwood , New Jersey, brother Richard LaRosa and wife Susan LaRosa of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, September 22, 2023 at Holy Family Catholic Church, located at 5125 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando FL with Father Martin officiating.  Interment will follow the mass at Winter Garden Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.



 

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Willard Hull Brown

Willard Hull Brown of Longwood, FL passed away peacefully on September 5, 2023 at the age of 98.  He was born 4/13/1925 in Detroit, MI to Willard Maltbie and Catharine Metzler Brown. Willard graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, then enrolled at Ohio State University in 1942.  He served in the U.S. Navy Nov. 1943 - Oct. 1945. After the war, he continued his studies at the University of Illinois and in 1945 graduated with a B.S. in civil engineering. In 1950 he graduated from Ohio State University with an MBA.  Mary Ellen Kessler, of Cleveland, and Will wed in 1957. They moved to Hollywood, Florida in 1968 with their two children Gregory H Brown and Gail M Brown Bayler. He worked in the building and design industry.  Will is survived by his two children and 4 grandchildren. The burial will take place at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at a future date. Donations can be made in his name to:

The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516 Topeka KS, 66675 or www.woundedwarrierproject.org.

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Cindy Marie Shank


Cindy Marie Shank was born on September 23, 1976 in Orlando Florida and went on to be with the Lord on August 25, 2023 in Birmingham Alabama.

Cindy was preceded in death by her grandson Waylon Thomas Smith, she is survived by her husband John Shank, her children Austin Smith (Brittany), Ryan Smith, Elaina Smith, John Kyle Shank Jr and Mikyla Shank, Parents Deborah and J.C Bowers and Curtis and Marie Howell, siblings Carla Dunn, Amanda Peyton (Andrew), Rebecca Howell-Gregg (Lloyd), Melissa Tillman (Timmy), Curtis Howell Jr (Courtney), Jeremy Bowers, and 3 grand children.

Cindy was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and a devoted Lolli to her 3 grandchildren Jamey, Kevin and Lilly. Cindy was a great friend to many and loved by all that knew her, she had a kind heart and generous spirit, she was smart, thoughtful and sweet, she loved to laugh and had a great sense of humor, her laughter was contagious and so was her smile. She loved spending time with her family and friends and she loved cats. She was an avid Alabama football fan (Roll Tide).

Cindy was a graduate, She got her medical office administration at LBW Community College and got her certificate and billing and coding at U.S Career Institute.

Above all these things, Cindy loved our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ , she was a faithful and prayerful servant of God and knew her home awaited her in heaven. She loved to talk about God and all the blessings she received. Cindy knew she would make it to heaven to be with our heavenly father.

Cindy was a masterpiece.

The family will be receiving friends at West Orange Park Community Church located at 9929 Lake Meadow Road, Apopka, FL 32703 at 10:00 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.  Interment will be held at Orlando Memorial Gardens.

 

   "Cindy my sister"

My dear sweet sister

I will miss you

When the sun will rise and when the sun will set

I will miss you

When the roses bloom and when the roses fade

I will miss you

When the moon is high or in the darkest of night

I will miss you

In the spring or the summer the winter or fall

I will miss you

You gave this life meaning

With all the love you had to give

You gave this life purpose

With all the joy you would lend

I know your in heaven 

But I still miss you the same 

I have another reason to make it to there 

For there you will answer when I say your name 

The pain I feel 

is just a moment in time

Compared to eternity that I will spend

With you by my side

Until I make to that sweet golden shore 

Until I see the pearly gates to walk through

My sister my best friend

Until then I will miss you

 Love always,

Beckie

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Jerome Thomas Wytrwal

Beloved husband, father and friend, Jerome Thomas Wytrwal went home Aug19, 2023 to be with his first son, JJ who passed away in 2020. Jerry was born in Chicago April 19, 1952 and lived in Bensenville,Il. His family moved to Orlando and settled in Pine Hills in 1970. His parents, John Wytrwal, Sr and Eileen Soderquist Wytrwal, brothers, John, Jr, James, Jeff, sister, Janet, and son, JJ, predeceased  him. He studied at Valencia Community College. Jerry married the love of his life in 1973.

He retired from Orlando Utilities in 2005. He loved retirement, cruising, working on computers, radio control airplanes and playing the guitar. Jerry leaves behind the family who loved him: Terri, wife of 49 years, 2 children; Stephen, Lauren and 2 granddaughters; Aisha and Anne-Marie, his sister, Joleen and many friends and relatives.

His services will be a viewing at Dobbs Funeral Home on  Kirkman in Orlando 10:30am Fri Sept 1. Funeral Mass at St Andrew Catholic Church at 12:45 same day and his Celebration of Life Luncheon immediately after at the St Andrew Parish Center on church property.

Monday, August 21, 2023

Michael Andrew O'Brien

 Michael Andrew O'Brien passed away on July 13, 2023. Michael was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey on April 14, 1953. He was very well traveled, taking many family trips as well as many military trips due to his 29+ years of military service. Michael began his military career in United States Marine Corps. He later transitioned to the Florida Army National Guard where he served as a Green Beret, Team Leader, Company Commander, and Battalion Commander in the 20th Special Forces Group. Michael retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He never forgot the friends he made in the service.

During the holidays Michael's family would invite service members into their home. Michael felt no one serving our country should be alone during these important times of the year. He loved to spend time outdoors, conquering the Appalachian Trail multiple times with friends and taking long walks with his dog through Wekiva National Park. Michael and his loving wife Maria enjoyed taking beach vacations and visiting friends in Key West. He was an avid lover of westerns and war movies with a particular affection for John Wayne and WWII movies.

Michael graduated from the Florida State University College of Law in 1984 and began his legal career with the Florida State Attorney's Office specializing in White Collar crime before opening a private defense practice. He was focused primarily on helping the little guy. Michael always said that if the only goal was money, he was making all the wrong moves. Michael participated for many years in charity work serving as a Director of The Orlando Margarita Society which helps needy children in the community.

Michael is survived by his wife Maria, son Matthew, and stepchildren John, Amanda, and Karla as well as his dog Rocky, who misses him terribly. He is also survived by his brother Stephen (Marie) O'Brien, sisters Eileen (Eric) Curtis and Claire Cottrell. Michael was predeceased by his parents Andrew and Mary O'Brien.

A memorial service will take place at 1:00 p.m. (1300) on Sunday, August 27 at Dobbs Funeral Home, 430 N. Kirkman Road, Orlando, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Michael's name to the Orlando Margarita Society at 400 South Park Avenue, Suite 230 Winter Park, Florida 32789.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Joan Omeil Foster-Taylor

Joan Omeil Foster-Taylor, 50, of Orlando, passed away Saturday, June 24th, 2023 at Orlando
Regional Medical Center.   She was born in Westoreland, Jamaica the daughter of the late Shirley Graham and was employed in hotel house keeping.  

Joan leaves to cherish her memory son, Kevin Wright of Kingston Jamaica and many relatives and friends.

The family will be receiving friends on Thursday, August 17th, 2023 from 5:00p, followed by the funeral service at 6:00 pm. at Dobbs Funeral Home.


Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Joseph William Boler

Joseph William Boler, loving husband of 68 years to Alice B. Boler, passed away August 10, 2023.  He was born on December 6, 1927 in Westport, MA.  Joseph enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and proudly served his country in WWII.  After moving to Orlando, FL in 1960, he joined Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin where he retired with 30 years of service.  

He is survived by his children Rose-Marie, Michael, and Carol-Anne, son-in-laws Harold and Billy, and three grandsons Joey, Clay, and Alex.

Memorial Mass will be held on August 18, 2023 at 10:30 AM at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 801 N. Hastings St. Orlando, FL 32808.  He will be laid to rest at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell FL.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Alzheimer's Association, in Memory of Joseph W. Boler