Eleanor DeGrazia, 84, Vero Beach
Eleanor DeGrazia, 84, of Vero Beach, passed away Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. Eleanor was born in Detroit, Mich., July 27, 1933, and moved to Vero Beach in 1979 from Waterford, Mich.
She was a member of the First Church of God in Vero Beach where she served as secretary before her retirement.
Eleanor enjoyed tennis, crafts, and knitting.
Survivors include her children, Kenneth J. (Lori) DeGrazia, of Vero Beach, Lori Shortness, of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Ronald DeGrazia, of Palm Beach; sisters, Sonja Schneemann, of Centerville, Ohio, and Arlene Boyd, of Honolulu, Hawaii; grandchildren, Keri (Andrew) Didway, Daniel (Emily) DeGrazia, Steven (Maggie) Shortness, Mark Shortness, Michael Shortness, and Lindsey Shortness; and great-grandson, Jace Didway.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur DeGrazia.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA/Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
The family will receive friends 10 – 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28, at The First Church of God in Vero Beach with a memorial service celebrating her life beginning at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the church.
Warren Desjardins, 90, Vero Beach
Warren Desjardins, 90, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 18, 2017.
All County Funeral Home – Stuart.
Dr. George William Fika, 81, formerly Vero Beach
Dr. George William Fika, 81, of Okeechobee, and formerly Vero Beach, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. He was born Jan. 5, 1936, in Vero Beach to John and Eleanor Fika.
After graduating from Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Okla., he pursued his passion for the medical field in the art of Chiropractic care. He graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic, and began his life-long journey in the art of natural healing.
After 40 years, he retired his Vero Beach practice, and lived out the remainder of life on his property he so loved, with his abundance of animals, nature and the outdoors.
Survivors include daughters, Brenda Jakubowski (Dale), Kathy Lowery, Angela McGraw (Timm); and four grandchildren, Jordan Jakubowski, Emily Lowery, Samuel McGraw and Nicholas McGraw.
There will be no repose or visitation. A private, family memorial is planned for a later date.
Juan Carlos Gonzalez, 52, Vero Beach
Juan Carlos Gonzalez, 52, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 20, 2017.
All County Funeral Home – Stuart.
Dwayne Brown Morris, 78, Vero Beach
Dwayne Brown Morris passed away peacefully on Oct. 18, 2017, at Indian River Memorial Hospital after a prolonged illness. He was born on Sept. 15, 1939, to Inez and Johnie Morris in Vero Beach.
Dwayne was an avid fisherman and boater who enjoyed traveling, camping in his Recreational Vehicle and spending time with friends and family. He loved taking photos of beautiful things and flying R/C airplanes.
Prior to retirement he was a marina manager, volunteered as a reserve deputy with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, was a charter member of the Vero Beach Volunteer Ambulance Squad and served in the United States Army.
He will be missed by all who knew him, especially his family.
Dwayne is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years Patti, a son, Dane Morris (Michelle), a daughter, Ann Staszewski (Mike), three grandchildren, Dane Morris Jr., Ryan Morris, and Kaitlyn Staszewski; his twin brother, Wayne Morris, of Ft. Lauderdale; and sister, Selma Luther, of Vero Beach; along with several nieces and nephews.
He was pre-deceased by his parents, Johnie and Inez Morris; and sister, Florence Brooks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Senior Resource Center in his name.
Walthere Victor Ooms, 87, of Vero Beach
Walthere Victor Ooms, 87, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 18, 2017, at VNA Hospice House. He was born April 9, 1930, to Luis Ooms and Emma Schoenmakers, in Montegnee, Belgium.
His first marriage in Belgium to Rosario Ruiz, resulted in a daughter, beautiful Anita Gabriele. Then during WWII he married his second wife, Rose Argente, whom he met in Mozambique East Africa.
Walthere worked for Siemens as a technical supervisor for medical x-ray for over 20 years.
Walter was a good man and left a legacy that will carry on as we will love and remember him always!
As was his wishes, there will be no formal service and Walthere’s cremated remains will be scattered at sea.
William Joseph Slattery, 88, Vero Beach
William “Bill” Joseph Slattery, 88, passed away Oct. 20, 2017, in Vero Beach. He was born in New York City, on July 31, 1929, to William and Helen Slattery.
A graduate from Cardinal Hayes High School in New York, he also graduated from New York University, Dartmouth College, and the New York Institute of Banking. Bill was the Vice President of the Manufacturer’s Hanover Trust (now Chase Bank) for over 40 years until his retirement in 1989.
Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953.
After serving in the armed forces, he married Theresa Cummings on June 5, 1954. Bill was an avid golfer, and a former member of Kiwanis Club of Vero Beach.
Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Theresa; his son, William “Bill” (Diane) J. Slattery; daughter, Theresa “Terry” M. Slattery Golden; step-grandchildren, Gregory Jasmin and Corey (Jennifer) Jasmin; and his sisters, Kathryn Butler and Helen Pugh.
A Mass of Christina burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 7550 26th St, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to VNA Hospice House, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960-4801
Estelyn Miller Stevens, 95, Vero Beach
Estelyn Miller Stevens, 95, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 19, 2017.
Strunk Funeral Home – Vero Beach.
Rickie M. Stone, 69, Vero Beach
Rickie M. Stone, 69, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 16, 2017.
All County Funeral Home – Stuart.
Warren Sidney Sumner, III, 77, Vero Beach
Warren Sidney Sumner, III, 77, died peacefully at his home in Vero Beach, on Oct. 23, 2017, after a short illness. He was born in Detroit, Mich., on June 11, 1940, to Warren S. Sumner, Jr., and Virginia Siler Sumner.
He was raised in Birmingham, Mich., and attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Birmingham High School.
He served in the United States Airforce and graduated from Arizona State University and the Pennsylvania State University Executive Management Program.
Warren began his career in sales and marketing in the Detroit area working for American Chain and Cable and the Hamill Manufacturing Company. He and his family then moved to Bedford, Pennsylvania where he was the VP of sales and marketing for Hedstrom Company. In 1980, the family moved to Longmeadow, Mass., where he was the VP of Marketing for Milton Bradley Company.
In 1987, Warren changed careers and joined the Spingler Insurance Agency. After purchasing the agency, he joined William Toner to form the Sumner Toner Insurance Agency. His son, Warren IV (Bud) joined the agency and succeeded him when he retired as Chairman in 2015.
Warren filled his retirement years with many volunteer activities all of which gave him great happiness but his two favorites were volunteering for the Indian River Medical Center and serving on committees and as the president of Riomar Country Club.
His avocation was the game of golf and in addition to his membership at Riomar he was a member of the Baystate Seniors Golf Association and a past member of Longmeadow Country Club and Oakland Hills Country Club.
Warren leaves his wife of 53 years, Susan (Schlachter); his daughter, Stephanie Welchans and her husband, Tom, of Jacksonville; his sons, Warren IV and his wife, Maureen, of Needham, Mass., and Christopher, of Encinitis, Calif. He also leaves his cherished grandchildren, William, Caroline and Charlie Sumner and Sidney Welchans. He is also survived by his brother, J. William (Bill), of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Springfield, Mass., at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, with internment in Longmeadow Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held in Vero Beach at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County at 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or a charity of one’s choice.
James D. Wallace, 84, Vero Beach
James D. Wallace, 84, of Vero Beach, died Oct. 23, 2017. He was born in Bronx, N.Y., on Feb. 3, 1924, to Michael J. and Josephine Wallace.
He attended Regis High School and graduated from Mount St. Michael High School before enlisting in the Navy Air Corps in 1943. He trained as a radio operator in a torpedo bomber squadron in Florida then transferred to California, where he continued training until the war in the Pacific ended. He was discharged in 1946. He then attended Manhattan College.
He married Katherine Broderick in 1946, and in 1954 the couple moved to New Rochelle, N.Y., where Jim was an active member of Holy Family church. For more than 40 years he was a sales agent for Allstate Insurance Company in several midtown New York offices. In 2009, after 15 years as snowbirds, the couple moved fulltime to Vero Beach.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years; five daughters: Mary Norman, of Toronto, Canada; Katherine Smith, of Delray Beach; Virginia Wallace, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Therese Wallace, of Orlando; Margaret Webb, of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; four sons, Thomas of New York, N.Y.; Gerald of White Plains, N.Y.; Timothy of Sonoma, Calif., and Andrew of Hinsdale, Ill.; 27 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Jim was predeceased by a son, James Dawson Wallace Jr., and a granddaughter, Maeve Wallace.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church on Friday Oct. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach.
