Wanda Margaret Harlock Anderson, 90, Wabasso
Wanda Margaret Harlock Anderson, 90, of Wabasso, passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at Atlantic Healthcare Center in Vero Beach.
Wanda was born in Wabasso and was a graduate of Vero Beach High School, Class of 1944.
After graduating from high school, she went to work for the FBI in Washington, DC, later moving to Miami where she worked for the Miami News.
Eventually Wanda returned to Indian River County serving as the bookkeeper at Deerfield Groves in Wabasso and for Ocean Spray. She loved to fish and read.
Survivors include her daughters Karen Vatland (Bob) and Kathi Neuberger (Chris), of Vero Beach, and Susan McCutchan (Dwight), of Phoenix, Ariz.; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Richard “Dickie” Anderson; and sons, Ricky and Randy Anderson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach, P.O. Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
No services are planned at this time.
Helen Atwater Brown, 92, Vero Beach
Helen Atwater Brown, 92, of Vero Beach, passed away Sept. 14, 2017, at VNA Hospice House.
She was born March 16, 1925, in Jamestown, NY, to the late John and Irma (Griswald) Atwater.
Ms. Brown enjoyed her many years of work at The ARC of New Jersey where she advocated for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Helen was a member of Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church. She enjoyed volunteering her time with Treasure Coast Chorale, Theater Guild, Vista Royale Bowlers, Choir, and Ladies by the Sea.
Survivors include Joseph DeJoy; son, Randall Brown; daughter, Sharon Millington; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by son, Brian Brown.
There will be a service held 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church, 3755 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA Hospice, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.
Susan Theresa Kelly, 88, Sebastian
Susan Theresa Kelly, 88, of Sebastian, and formerly from Brooklyn, NY, passed away on Sept. 15, 2017, in Sebastian.
Susan played a vital part in keeping her family together and touched the lives of everyone she met. Her laugh and smile were infectious so it’s no surprise that she made friends wherever she went. Susan’s family and friends will miss her greatly, but the impression that she made on them will live forever. Susan lived a long and fruitful life; she will be missed but never forgotten by her family and her friends. Her light, her legacy and her spirit will continue on with great bliss and laughter by her loved ones. So for all who knew Susan, keep laughing, live life with joy and have yourself a margarita, because she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Susan is survived by her two beautiful daughters, Mary and Theresa; and her son Frederick Thomas Kelly Jr.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of which loved her dearly.
Predeceased by her husband Fred Kelly of 46 years, her brother Sam and sister Rosemary, as well as her two daughters, Kathleen and Elizabeth, she will be buried beside them.
Services will be held at Strunk Funeral Home located at 1623 North Central Ave., Sebastian. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 5-7 p.m., as well as a vigil on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 5-8 p.m. A Requiem Mass will be held Friday, Sept. 22, at the St. Luke’s Catholic Church, located at 5055 Micco Road, Sebastian, with a burial to follow at the Sebastian Cemetery.
Alphonsus Joseph Polackwich, 96, Vero Beach
Alphonsus Joseph Polackwich, 96, of Vero Beach, died peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 14, 2017, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. He was born in Biddeford, Maine, and lived and worked in Saco, Maine, before retiring to Vero Beach in 1985.
Al, as he was known to his friends, served in the U.S. Army, Second Armored Division, during World War II, participating in the liberation of central Europe and the invasion of Germany. After an honorable discharge, he began his career as an apprentice machinist in the Saco-Lowell shops, eventually retiring as Vice-President/Plant Manager of the Saco Defense System Division of Maremont Corporation, which had acquired the Saco-Lowell Shops.
His many career achievements were recognized in Maine and by the International Society of Manufacturing Engineers which presented him with its prestigious National Award of Merit.
Al was an active volunteer in his community, both in Maine and Vero Beach, serving as chairman or director of many non-profit organizations, including the Polish-American Club in Vero Beach.
He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Al is survived by his son, Alan S. Polackwich, of Vero Beach; and numerous grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Eleanor Scott Polackwich; and his son Dr. Robert J. Polackwich.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. with interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
Joyce ‘Joy’ McKay Steggles, Vero Beach
Friends and family are mourning the loss of Joyce “Joy” McKay Steggles, who unexpectedly passed away the early morning hours of Sept. 12, 2017, at her Oak Harbor home in Vero Beach, after having just weathered Hurricane Irma at the home of a relative.
Joy lived a long and fascinating life and felt very fortunate to have had two beloved husbands.
Joy was born in Birmingham, England, on New Year’s Eve 1923, the daughter of John and Margaret Haines.
After the war, Joy was employed by the British Foreign Service, working in the British Embassy in Moscow before moving to Nigeria to work with the United Africa Company.
It was there that she met Donald Stuart McKay, an executive with Mobil Oil. They married in 1954 and traveled the world with his job, living primarily in Nigeria, New York City, Paris and South America, before settling in Proctorsville, Vt.
After Don died in 1984, Joy purchased a home in Vero Beach where she met John Charles Steggles, a fellow Brit. They married in 2002 and relished traveling, nurturing beautiful gardens in Chatham and Vero Beach and fostering philanthropic endeavors until his death in 2009.
Having lost his first wife to Alzheimer’s, John became an avid supporter of the Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County. Joy sustained his legacy at the organization through continued support and membership in its planned giving, Steggles Society. Joy was honored for her philanthropic efforts as the recipient of the Outstanding Individual Philanthropist Award at the 2016 National Philanthropy Day Dinner.
Joy is survived by cousins Eunice Bartolucci, of Canada, Derek Thomas, of Australia, and Mary Schenkel, of Vero Beach; nieces/nephews, Donald McKay, Beth McKay, Jeanne McNeely, David, Richard, John and Stephen McKay; stepchildren, Angela Nevius and Christopher Steggles; and numerous other family and friends throughout the world.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 3 at Oak Harbor Club.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed by charitable organizations she supported, including the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association of Indian River County, Gifford Youth Achievement Center, Salvation Army, The Source and the VNA & Hospice Foundation.
Nathalie B. Thompson, 95, Vero Beach
Nathalie B. Thompson, 95, of Vero Beach, died peacefully on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Nat graduated from The Masters School (Dobbs), attended Wells College and earned a degree in drama from Northwestern University.
She married Thomas S. Thompson in 1945 and raised their children in Darien, Ct. Nat and Tommy first came to Vero Beach in 1987 living at John’s Island and at Oak Harbor. Nat traveled the world, including a Baltic trip two years ago, read a library’s worth of books, and had a hole in one at 83 years.
Her passion was The Riverside Theatre where she coordinated trips to New York and London and was a longtime member of The Friends of Riverside Theatre.
She is survived by her children: Ingrid Morsman (Kimball) of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Todd Thompson (Becky Raslan) of Southbury, Ct., Kristin Kirkendall (Henry) of Vero Beach, and Chiqui Guiribitey (James Langone) of Vero Beach; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who call her Nana.
She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Tommy Thompson; her two sons, Eric, of Darien, Ct., and Douglas, of Vero Beach; her daughter-in-law, Mary, of Southbury, Ct.; and her sister, Elizabeth Powers, of Sarasota.
The family is grateful for the care from Private Nursing Care, in particular, Gayla Eastman, Anita Johnson and Amy Silberling.
A private service will be held at a later date in Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nat’s name may be made to Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963.
