From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Shirley Darlene Ross Lewis, 78, Vero Beach
October 19, 1943 – April 26, 2022
Shirley Darlene Ross Lewis, age 78, passed away April 26, 2022, at her home in Vero Beach.
She was born October 19, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri to the late John and Eula Fay Ross.
Shirley retired from Vero Beach Elementary School as a Teacher Assistant. She was also the co-owner of Joseph C. Lewis Construction.
She was a Christian and a supporter of the Indian River Republican Party. She attended Culinary School at Indian River State College and had a passion for cooking.
Survivors include her daughters, Kimberly Barteau and Dawn LaPrade; grandchildren, Justin, Jordan, Jonathan, Meagan, Maria, Karissa, Benjamin, and Susan; along with nineteen great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph C. Lewis; son, Brian D. Kline; and great-grandson, Theo Salvatore Bell.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Dianna R. Mills, 79
July 15, 1942 – April 28, 2022
Dianna R. Mills, 79, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 28th, 2022, in Vero Beach, Florida surrounded by loving family and friends.
She was born in Washington, Indiana resided in Greenwood, Indiana.
Dianna retired as a floral designer. She was a member St. John’s Catholic Church in Loogootee, Indiana.
Survivors include son Eric Mills (Jeff Neese) of Miami, FL, and daughter Marci (Sissy Stowe) Mills of Vero Beach, FL.
Dianna was predeceased by her loving husband Charles ‘Bob’ Mills.
An internment of cremated remains will take place in Loogootee, Indiana at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice House located at 901 37th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Frank P. Morrell Jr., 75, Vero Beach
February 14, 1947 – April 17, 2022
Frank P. Morrell Jr., 75, of Vero Beach, passed away on April 17, 2022 quietly at home.
Frank, born on February 14, 1947 to Frank P. Morrell Sr. and Elizabeth Sellers in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He completed the family of five.
In 1971, he married the love of his life, Edith “Dee” Desch and were inseparable from that point on. Dee and Frank were married for over 50 years. 1978, Dee and Frank relocated to the Florida Keys where they welcomed their daughter Heather. They built a home and community of friends in Tavernier where they lived for 41 years.
Frank worked in the elevator trade for Otis Elevator commuting to the NYC then Miami area before retiring in 2002. He filled his retirement days spending his time helping anyone and everyone around him. He loved anything to do with cars- hot rods, engines and cars shows. In 2019, they relocated to Vero Beach to be closer to Heather, her husband John and three grandchildren. Frank and Dee once again created a home and community of friends in Vero Beach.
Frank was a kind, loving and supportive father, Pop-Pop and friend to all. He was someone who would literally give you the shirt off of his back. Frank never met a stranger and made friends everywhere he went. He was a simple man who loved unconditionally.
Frank is reunited with his love, Dee Morrell, who predeceased him in the 2021. Frank is survived by his daughter Heather, son-law John, and three grandchildren Jacob, Logan and Baye Young. He was also predeceased by his parents, Frank P. Morrell Sr. and Elizabeth Sellers, his brother Charles Morrell and his sister Janet Morrell.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 30th 11:00am at the Garden Club of Vero Beach, 2526 17th Avenue.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of FRANK MORRELL, JR., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Eileen Margaret Plate, 71, Sebastian
March 19, 1951 – April 28, 2022
Mrs. Eileen Margaret Plate, 71, of Sebastian, Florida passed away Thursday, April 28, 2022 at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.
Eileen was born in Queens, New York to the late George and Madelaine Prehm Freudig. Eileen and her husband John, moved to Sebastian in 1989 from Bayport, New York.
She had obtained a computer science degree in New York and had most recently worked for Publishers’ Alliance in Vero Beach before retiring. Eileen was a member of St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church in Sebastian. She loved travelling and being a very involved volunteer for the Sebastian Soccer Association and the Sebastian High School for which she received the Golden Apple Award.
Eileen took great delight in being involved and supportive of her family.
Survivors include her husband John Henry Plate, son Jeffrey John (Jennifer) Plate of Sebastian, daughter Stacey Madelaine (Jonathan) Epstein of Royal Palm Beach, and grandchildren John Plate, Jacob Plate, and Ryder Epstein.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
The family will receive friends 5-7 PM, Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Strunk Funeral Home in Sebastian. A funeral service celebrating her life will begin at 11 AM, Saturday, May 7, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church in Sebastian. Interment will be at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 11 AM, Monday, May 9, 2022.
Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Sebastian, Florida.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of EILEEN MARGARET PLATE, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Barbara “Bobbi” Shafranski, 79, Vero Beach
July 6, 1942 – April 26, 2022
Barbara “Bobbi” Shafranski, age 79, of Vero Beach, FL passed away of natural causes on April 26, 2022.
She leaves a huge hole in the hearts of her family and friends who were always entertained by her jokes, hilarious sense of humor and endless curiosity.
She was born July 7, 1942 in Jacksonville, FL to Beatrice Pruyn Longton and Carl Henry Longton. She spent much of her childhood in Clayton, NY and was legally adopted by her step-father, John Thibault.
Barbara graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School and attended the University of Florida. Over the course of her life she was an oral surgery assistant in Texas and Florida; a bank teller in Minnesota and a real estate agent in Vero Beach. Before retirement, she was an 18-year rural letter carrier for the US Postal Service.
She married Darrell Shafranski in 1972 and went on to have two children, Wendy and Neil.
Barbara never forgot a joke and loved spending time outdoors fishing and golfing – she even got a hole-in-one at Sandridge Golf Course! She spent time in China and also enjoyed cruises and live shows, with Cirque du Soleil being her favorite.
She is survived and loved by daughter Wendy Shafranski; son-in-law Rob DelaCruz; two sisters, Susan Berg and Patsy Ladrie; brother Fred Thibault and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Barbara is now at peace, joining her parents, son Neil and sister Nancy.
There will be a celebration for family and close friends in May.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sunshine Physical Therapy, a non-profit, independent, outpatient rehabilitation center.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Barbara T Shafranski, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Laura Ellen Hemmings, 71, Vero Beach
January 6, 1951 – April 26, 2022
Laura Ellen Hemmings, 71 of Vero Beach passed away on April 26, 2022. Please check back for a more detailed obituary soon.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Laura Ellen Hemmings, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Michael Andrew Garzone, 71
November 9, 1950 – April 27, 2022
Michael Andrew Garzone passed away on April 27, 2022. He is missed dearly by his family.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Michael Andrew Garzone, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
