Elizabeth “Betty” A. Liddle, 89, Vero Beach
Elizabeth “Betty” A. Liddle, of The Isles of Vero Beach died on Nov. 6, 2017, at the age of 89. Betty was born on July 11, 1928, to Frederick and Johanna “Josie” Liddle and brought up in Floral Park, N.Y.
She was a member of the Floral Park Junior Women’s Club and served as its president for two terms in the 1950s.
At the age of 34, she joined the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and achieved 54 years of continuous sobriety, helping many suffering alcoholics achieve sobriety by sharing her experience, strength and hope with them.
Betty was employed at the General Service Office (GSO) of Alcoholics Anonymous in New York for 18 years. Some of her memorable responsibilities included coordinating the International Convention in New Orleans in 1980 for 20,000 attendees, developing a pamphlet for Native American Alcoholics and overseeing the translation of the Big Book into Icelandic.
Betty retired from GSO in 1990 and moved to Asheville, N.C., where she worked part-time as an alcoholism counselor in Craggy Correctional Center.
Betty became a snow bird in 1996 when she purchased a condo in Vero Beach. She became a permanent resident in 2000 and was an active member of The Community Church of Vero Beach.
Betty is survived by her nephew, Joseph Shipman; her niece, Virginia Parsons; and great nieces, Meghan and Kelly Parsons.
She is predeceased by her sister, Margaret Mazza; and her brother, Frederick Liddle.
A memorial service led by Reverend Joel Reif will be held at The Community Church, 1901 23rd Street, Vero Beach, on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception in Community Hall.
Memorial donations (no flowers please) may be made in Betty’s name to The Community Church to help feed the homeless.
Charles Neumann, 90, Vero Beach
Charles Neumann, 90, of Vero Beach, passed away surrounded by his loving family at his residence on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Charles was born in Livingston Manor, N.Y.
He had been a resident of Vero Beach for the past 32 years coming from Liberty, N.Y.
He served in the United States Navy during WWII and the Korean War. He was a Grand Knight and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus in Vero Beach.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Natalie Neumann; and son-in-law, Orville Handy.
Survivors include his loving wife of 65 years, Dorothy Neumann; one daughter, Mary Handy; one son, Bob and his wife, Sharon, Neumann; two granddaughters, Laura Neumann, Jennifer and her husband, Mike, DiStefano; and five great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Charles’ life will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 6, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.
Cecelia P. Thompson, 92, Vero Beach
Cecelia P. Thompson, 92, a 40-year resident at the Racquet Club by the boardwalk, passed away peacefully Oct. 26, 2017, at Harbor Chase. She was born Feb. 24, 1925, to Petronella and Stanley Baran, in Philadelphia, Pa., who emigrated from Poland in 1905.
Cele was the sixth of seven siblings – Jenny, Al, Laura, Helen, Marie and Stanley.
The love of Cele’s life was her husband, George, of 51 years, who passed away in 1999. Cele and George attended mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church since 1977 when they moved to Vero Beach, after both retiring from the US Treasury Department in Philadelphia.
They loved fine dining and dancing at the many “top drawer” clubs and restaurants in Vero Beach, as well as travelling and cruising around the world. Cele said their best decision was retiring to Vero Beach.
Tennis was Cele’s greatest passion that started in school, continued at the Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia, and really blossomed at the many great clubs in Vero Beach. She was an avid contract bridge player, and loved enjoying dinner and entertainment with friends and family. Her last passion was walking the boardwalk and talking to her many friends.
She is survived by her brother, Stanley and wife, Steffie, of Philadelphia; niece, Ethel Cebra, of Lumberton, N.J.; nephew, Tom Baran, and wife, Natalie, of Stuart and Colorado Springs; nephew, Bob Baran, and wife, Pat, of Port Orchard, Wash.; grand niece, Tricia Baran, of Lynnwood, Wash.; grand nephew, Robert Baran, of Burlington, Wash.; grand nephew, Philip Baran, of Freeport, Maine; grand niece, Judy Thomas, of Lancaster, Pa.; grand nephew, Daniel Cebra, of Davis, Calif.; grand nephew, Chris Cebra, of Corvallis, Ore.; grand nephew, Jonathon Cebra, of the US Foreign Service; and their spouses and families.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Cele on Saturday at 10 a.m. Dec. 2, at Holy Cross Catholic Church followed by a reception at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) of Vero Beach or Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Finally, Cele’s words of wisdom to us all are, “Eat Right, Exercise and Laugh a Lot!”
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.