William Joseph Egan, 92, Vero Beach
On Tuesday, June 17, 2020, William “Bill” “Liam” Joseph Egan, 92, of Vero Beach, formerly of Enfield, Ct., peacefully passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Bill was born on Feb. 26, 1928, in County Offaly, Ireland, to William P. and Marianne Egan.
He worked for the Irish Land Commission before arriving in the United States aboard the SS Marine Tiger in 1949 and joining his family in Hartford, Ct. He joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Hartford Division 2, where he served as President while working at G. Fox and Company.
Later, he was employed in the Purchasing Department of the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections, Somers, retiring after 30 years.
Bill was an incredibly proud Irishman and displayed that pride as an active member of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Committee for 38 years; in 1985, he was the recipient of the Gallivan Award for his “outstanding contributions to the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee.”
Bill also celebrated Irish culture through his membership in the John Boyle O’Reilly Club of Springfield, Mass., and The Claddagh Club of Enfield, Ct., of which he was a founding member. He was also a member of the Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus.
A devout Catholic, Bill embodied the Christian ideal of loving one’s neighbor through his ceaseless acts of generosity and kindness.
One of Bill’s favorite pastimes was watching sports, particularly Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox games. He and his family spent many summer nights cheering on the Red Sox at Fenway Park, which he jokingly referred to as “the shrine.”
A highlight of his life was his first trip to see a Notre Dame home football game, especially the meals he was able to share with the team and his trips to the college bookstore for memorabilia. Bill’s desire to “get away from it all” and relax was fulfilled by cruising the Caribbean with his wife.
His love of animals, particularly dogs, was no secret; he treated them like children and they always were most content by his side. Bill enjoyed the little things in life, like Sunday night calls from his children, Irish music on Saturday mornings and steak and onions on Saturday night, or, on any day, a good story or joke.
Bill is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 56 years, Margaret; his children Patrice Gilbert and her husband Bill of Wethersfield, CT, Bill Egan and his wife Paula, and Angela Greene and her husband John of Pompano Beach, FL; his grandchildren, of whom he was very proud, Lindsay, Alison and Ryan Gilbert, Isla Egan, and Jordan Greene; two sisters, Peg Morris of Cromwell, CT and Nancy Goodrich of Portland, CT, and a brother Joe Egan of Newington, CT; many nieces and nephews along with family in Ireland. He was predeceased by his parents and an infant brother, James Francis.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach, FL on Monday, June 22nd at 10:00 am. A private burial will follow at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, Royal Palm Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Humane Society of Vero Beach or St. Helen Catholic Church.
Birdie Enix, 86, Vero Beach
We are saddened to announce the peaceful passing of Birdie Enix on June 19, 2020, at 86, in Vero Beach.
Wife of the late Lloyd. Mother of Irene (Frank), Bill (Kathy), Mike (Patty), Garry (Lorrie) and Margie (Pierre).
Predeceased by her parents Tom Psihogios and Emma Maxwell, as well as, her siblings Marguerite, George, Peter, Nicky and Ann Marie.
Survived by her sisters; Georgia and Claire and her brothers; Jim, Bill and Patrick.
The family would like to thank the staff at Rosewood Manor in Vero Beach for the care given to Birdie.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Strunk Funeral Home and the family is very grateful for the care and compassion shown during this difficult time.
A family service will be held at a later date in Sault Ste. Marie.
Craig Kovaleski, 42, Vero Beach
Craig Kovaleski passed away at 42 years of age on June 18, 2020, at 12:30 a.m. at Lawnwood Medical Center. Craig was born June 19, 1977, in Staten Island, New York to Joseph Richard Kovaleski and Sue Olga Kovaleski. Craig and his family moved to Vero Beach in the summer of 1983.
Craig attended the Vero Beach High School and graduated in the class of 1995.
After high school Craig attended the University of Central Florida and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. While in college Craig began working for Charles Schwab and continued to excel in the financial services industry for 16 years. Craig had a unique ability to communicate clearly and earn the trust of his clients by continually producing positive results.
Craig will always be remembered as a fun loving individual who loved life and lived it to the fullest. Craig’s favorite thing to do was fish in the Bahamas with his family and friends. Craig had a fondness of travel and a spontaneous personality that would not allow him to ever turn down the chance to visit a new place. Like the name of his boat “Just One More’ he never wanted to miss the opportunity at new life experiences. Craig was known by his family to be a very generous person always willing to lend a hand and found joy by helping the less fortunate and remaining anonymous.
In addition to his father Joe and mother Sue, Craig is survived by his three children Grady 12, Hadley 11, and Jackson Kovaleski 9, and his two brothers Joe and Steve Kovaleski. Craig also leaves behind three nephews Joseph, Ethan, and Zachary Kovaleski and two nieces Carlie and Leila Kovaleski.
Marjorie Ann Waitner, 87, Vero Beach
Marjorie Ann (nee Thomas) Waitner, died June 19, 2020, after a brief illness. “Marge” – as friends knew her – was born to August and Annie (Rebello) Thomas on May 30, 1933.
Raised in Plymouth, Massachusetts, she was a graduate of Plymouth High School, Class of 1951. Early in her professional career, she worked as a transcriptionist for the town’s only Judge and would travel to Washington, DC where she worked in similar capacity for the CIA in the Pentagon. Later, she would work for Plymouth/ Commonwealth Electric Company as an accounts receivable manager before retiring in 1999. After retirement, she worked as treasurer and office staff for the Bourne Council on Aging.
Marge was preceded in death by her late husband, Conrad J. “Jack” Waitner, and her sister, Joyce (Thomas) Fernald. Survived by her son John and his wife Charlotte, and daughters Lisa Martin and husband Edward, Margaret (Peggy) Ayala and her husband Nick, Lori Kindy and her husband Tim, and Kathleen (Thomas) Brennan and her husband Bob. Mrs. Waitner was a loving grandmother to eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed singing, crafting, and volunteering in her community. She was an avid Red Sox fan and held a special place in her heart for the country of Ireland after a much-anticipated trip there during retirement. Her greatest joys could be found in spending time with her grandchildren and puttering in her amazing flower gardens.
Marjorie will be laid to rest alongside her beloved Jack in the Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth. A Catholic Mass will be held at St Margaret’s Church in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts on July 13th at 10am. A celebration of her life will be held following the mass, contact family for details. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you may consider donating to The National Brain Tumor Society, an organization near and dear to the family’s heart using her granddaughter Hilary’s team link.