From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Miles M. O’Brien, Jr., 86, Vero Beach
July 21, 1935 – August 12, 2021
Miles M. O’Brien, Jr. died peacefully on August 12, 2021 at age 86 after contracting COVID-19 in the Sea Breeze Rehabilitation Facility where he was being treated for other chronic illnesses. He was born July 21, 1935 in Detroit and grew up in Grosse Pointe, MI, where he resided until November 1986 when he moved to Vero Beach, Florida.
He graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC in 1957 where he met his future wife, Carol Riley of Weston, MA, who was enrolled at Marymount College in Arlington, VA. They were married at St Ignatius Church, Newton MA, in September 1958 and settled in Grosse Pointe Farms.
There, they raised a son, Miles M. O’Brien, III, and a daughter, Aileen C. O’Brien.
After two years in retailing and three years in banking, Miles became a life insurance agent in 1963 and, twenty years later, a life insurance recruiter as well. He remained active in the business until 2012.
He was a private pilot who sparked a lifelong passion for flying in his son, an aviation analyst for CNN.
Miles was an active fundraiser for various charitable organizations including Bon Secours Hospital, The Grosse Pointe Academy, and Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He was also very active in his two parishes, St Paul in Grosse Pointe Farms and Holy Cross in Vero Beach, serving as a lector and lay Eucharistic minister.
For many years he took great pride and fulfillment in delivering the Eucharist to homebound members of the Holy Cross Parish. In his final hours, he found solace in their examples of peace, courage and joy at the end of their lives.
During the pandemic lockdown, he met the second love of his life. Jeanne Lawrence, at the Solaris Assisted Living Facility in Vero Beach. They made plans to be married, but she too contracted COVID in another rehabilitation facility and died in February of 2021.
He was also predeceased by his wife and daughter. Surviving family members include his son and four grandchildren, Aileen C. Graef of Washington, DC, Miles M. O’Brien, IV of Catania, Italy, Connery F. O’Brien of Brooklyn, NY and Katherine R. Graef of Jacksonville, FL.
Donations in the name of Miles M. O’Brien, Jr. may be made to The Visiting Nurses Association of the Treasure Coast at https://vnatc.org/waystogive/
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of MILES M. O’BRIEN, JR., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Noemi Vega Pesce, 89, Vero Beach
February 27, 1932 – August 13, 2021
Noemi Vega Pesce, 89, of Vero Beach passed away August 13, 2021 surrounded by her loving family at the home of her son in Georgia.
She was born February 27, 1932 in Havana, Cuba to the late Enrique and Margarita Vega. At the age of 18 she courageously made the move to the United States to follow her dream and the love of her life.
Noemi retired from Piper aircraft as an Aero Electrician Tech.
A member of St. Helen Catholic Church, Noemi was a devoted Catholic.
A true matriarch, and “Mom” to all, Noemi found her greatest joy in her family. She was the soul of the family, a rock, and the true foundation on which those blessed with her presence found their strength. Noemi always put others before herself. She gave and loved without limits. Traveling was her passion; she covered many miles on the open road with her family. She also enjoyed anything that was art and craft related. She enjoyed making and designing flower arrangements for friends, family, and herself to enjoy. A huge animal lover, Noemi can be remembered for stopping by to feed the cows on the way home. She loved all animals even the ones that didn’t belong to her.
In addition to her parents, Noemi was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, Joseph Pesce in 2007, and their daughter, Diane Kunisch in 2013.
Survivors include her children, John Pesce and wife Neva of Georgia, daughter, Maria Cooper and husband Bobby of Lake Mary, Florida, and Michael Pesce and fiance Misti Winemiller of Vero Beach; granddaughters, Brianna Pesce and Lexia Cooper; grandsons, Michael McGrady, Donnie McGrady, Chase Cooper, Josh Pesce, Joe Pesce and Cooper Durkin; 7 great-grandchildren; siblings, Alexa Vega, Mercy Cureton, Joe Vega and Henry Vega.
In addition to flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to www.stjude.org in memory of Noemi.
Services will be held 2:00 p.m. on Saturday August 21, 2021 at Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m.
A committal service will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of NOEMI VEGA PESCE, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
John A. Kennedy, 64, Sebastian
July 13, 1957 – August 13, 2021
John A Kennedy, 64 of Sebastian, Florida passed away on August 13, 2021.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of John A Kennedy, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Charles Franklin Roberts, 89, Vero Beach
March 14, 1932 – August 16, 2021
Charles “Charlie” Roberts
Charles Franklin Roberts, 89, passed away peacefully at the VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, FL, on Monday, August 16, 2021. He was born in Vero Beach on March 14, 1932. He graduated from Vero Beach High School in 1950 and enjoyed playing team sports being named “Most Athletic Boy” his Senior year. He went to work for the City of Vero Beach in 1952 at the age of 20 where he worked until he retired in 1994. He was an avid Vero Beach Indians fan, and enjoyed fishing, walking and body surfing at Jaycee Beach. Charlie especially loved making memories with friends and family at the beaches in Vero. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Naomi “Judy” Roberts and his daughters, Susan (Emile) de Cuba, Cindy (Jay) Holdren, Anita “Missy” (Orlando) Colom and grandchildren, Chelsi and Gabriel de Cuba, Joshua (Sierra) and Dylan Justus, Kaleigh Patterson and Isabel Colom and his beloved dog Molly Mae.
A Celebration of Charlie’s Life will be held Sunday, August 22nd at 3:00pm, Cox-Gifford Funeral Home, 1950 20th Street.
For those who wish, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or VNA Hospice House – Vero Beach in Charlie’s memory.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Charles F. Roberts, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Lawrence “Pat” Welch, 78, Sebastian
January 13, 1943 – August 18, 2021
Lawrence “Pat” Welch, 78, of Sebastian, passed away unexpectedly, August 18, 2021
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Lawrence “Pat” Renzi Welch, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.