Sheilah Marie Anderson, Vero Beach
Sheilah Marie Anderson passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at her residence in Vero Beach. Sheilah was born in Natick, Mass., and lived in Vero Beach for 21 years coming from Fort Lauderdale.
She is survived by her son, Steven Anderson; mother Ann Carlson; sister Sherrie Powell (Everette), all of Vero Beach; and brother, Richard Carlson, of Ormond Beach, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Anderson; and sister, Sandra Lee Condon.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 15, 2017, from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service beginning at 2 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
Lt. Col. Benjamin W. Boswell Jr., 80, Sebastian
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin W. Boswell Jr., 80, died July 1, 2017, at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian. He was born in Baltimore, Md., and moved to Sebastian 17 years ago from Melbourne, Fla.
Lieutenant Colonel Boswell was a veteran of the US Air Force having served 41 years. He obtained his Masters Degree in Finance.
He was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Vero Beach. He was a member of the American Legion Post 189 and VFW Post 10210 in Sebastian.
Survivors include sons, Benjamin W. Boswell III and William R. Boswell, both of Grants Pass, Ore.; daughters, Hattie L. Boswell, of Glendale, Ariz., and Emma S. Boswell, of Sebastian; grandchildren, Hollie Killebrew, Heather Scroggin (Andrew), Carlos Boswell and Samuel Boswell; four great-grandchildren; brother, Richard V. Boswell (Cathy) of Westminster, Md.; and companion, Betty Ward of Sebastian.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Macatee Boswell.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 in memory of Benjamin Boswell, Jr.
Memorial services were held July 11 at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Vero Beach. Military honors were conducted by the Sebastian Area Veterans’ Honor Guard.
Martha K. Bryant, 80, Vero Beach
Martha K. Bryant passed away Monday, July 3, 2017, at 11:20 a.m. at the Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. Martha was born on Jan. 16, 1937, in Maspeth, Queens, NY, the daughter of Margaret Mary Gruenfelder and Valentine Kopp.
She worked for the Freeport and Lindenhurst Public Schools for a total of 35 years. Martha retired as a secretary to the Athletic Director’s Office to enjoy her family and friends in both West Babylon, NY, and Vero Beach.
On Feb. 7, 1959, Martha married Eugene A. Bryant in Freeport, NY, at the Holy Redeemer Church and they enjoyed 58 years together as a couple.
Martha was a loving wife, sister, mother and “Nana” to her grandchildren. She was also a faithful and fun loving friend to many.
Survivors include her daughter, Valentina M. Bryant Farrelly and her husband Kevin Farrelly, of East Islip, NY; son, Eugene W. Bryant and his wife Megan Bryant, of Westbury, NY, three grandchildren, Shawn Farrelly, Emily Bryant and Ethan Bryant; and sister, Mary Darwell, of North Bellmore, NY.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Valentine Kopp, Thomas Kopp, Walter Kopp and Margaret Rapp.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3375 20th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.
Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in West Babylon, New York at a later date.
Victoria Lynn Crosby-Potaczek, 50, Vero Beach
Victoria Lynn Crosby-Potaczek, 50, died July 3, 2017, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach.
Services were held at Strunk Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The VNA Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Rodman Anthony Fry, 60, Sebastian
Rodman Anthony Fry, 60, of Sebastian, passed away July 3, 2017 at his home. He was born Sept. 4, 1956, in South Kingston, RI.
He was a graduate of South Kingston High School and was a member of First Church of God, Wakefield, RI.
He is survived by his wife, Valerie Fry; four children, Joseph Porter, Ashley Fry, Catherine Fry, and Zackery Fry; five grandchildren; two brothers and a sister.
Mr.Fry was predeceased by his parents, Samuel Fry and Vina Hazard.
Services will be private.
Julia ‘Judy’ Sakal, Vero Beach
Julia “Judy” Sakal died unexpectedly on July 4, 2017, in Vero Beach. Born in 1927 in Breathitt County, Kentucky, Judy was the daughter of James and Martha Holbrook. She moved to Dayton, Ohio, after graduating from high school. While there, she met and married the love of her life, John Sakal.
Julia and John had two children, Nancy and John. After leaving the Dayton area, the Sakals went on to reside in Pleasant Hill, Calif.; Newark, Ohio; Paoli, Pa.; and Lake Zurich, Ill. They retired to Vero Beach in 1993.
Judy was passionate about working in her yard, even in the hottest Florida weather. She was a devoted wife and mother, always placing her husband and children’s needs above her own. In addition to raising her own children, she served as a second mother to Nancy and John’s friends and an assortment of orphaned birds and rabbits. She also showered her love on numerous family pets and four-legged grandchildren.
Judy’s husband, John, passed away in 2005.
She is survived by her two children, Nancy and John; son-in-law, Jay Eskew; older sister, Lena Patrick; younger brother, Beach Holbrook; and her most recent grand-dog, Boris. Judy will never be replaced.
Services were held at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Vero Beach Humane Society.
Stephanie L. Sears Thompson, 41, Vero Beach
Stephanie L. Sears Thompson, 41, of Vero Beach, was born on Jan. 22, 1976, in Houston, Texas, to Diane and Ronnie Sears. She went to Our Lord on July 4, 2017, at 9:31 a.m. at VNA Hospice, Vero Beach.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth D. Thompson; parents Arthur and Diane Martin, of Port St Lucie; brothers John Sears, of Alexandra, La., and James Sears; sister, Robin Kurpicki; and her children Mariah Paul, Anthony Paul, Jada Hallums, Jasmyn and Shyheim Mcdonald, all of Port St Lucie; two grandchildren; and a host of friends and other family members.
Memorial Services will be held at All County Funeral Home & Crematory in Stuart, Fla., on July 15 at 4 p.m.