From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
James R. Grieshaber Sr., 86, Vero Beach
February 14, 1938 – November 26, 2024
James R. Grieshaber Sr., 86, of Vero Beach, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2024
James was born to Harry and Alice (nee Barry) Grieshaber. He was the beloved brother of Gene, Harry, William, and Richard. James was a devoted husband to Judith M. (nee Seyfried), and a loving father to James R. Jr., Daniel F. (deceased), and Jeffrey M. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Christy G. Keenan-Grieshaber, and was a doting grandfather to James R. Grieshaber and Michael A. Grieshaber. James was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews, who will remember him fondly.
At the age of 18, James left high school to serve in the U.S. Navy, proudly defending his country. After completing his tour of duty, he returned home to obtain his GED.
James dedicated much of his life to firefighting, both professionally and as a volunteer. He began his career with the Brentwood Fire Department before joining the Hampton Bays Fire Department, where he served for over 40 years, including as Chief from 1990 to 1991. His selfless service and commitment to his community were an integral part of his life, and he was deeply respected by those who worked alongside him.
James will be remembered as a man of great character, dedicated to his family, his country, and his community. He leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and devotion.
Funeral services will be held at St. Helen Catholic Church on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, with burial at Crestlawn Cemetery immediately following the service. The family will receive friends both Sunday and Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Donna Astrella, 78, Vero Beach
March 17, 1946 – November 22, 2024
Donna Astrella, a pillar of strength, love and selflessness, passed away on November 22, 2024, after a short, but forcefully fought battle with cancer. She was 78 years old.
Donna will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Richard, her daughter, Kim, son-in-law Jeff, two precious grandchildren Sarah and Nathan and daughter-in-law, Sheryl. She is now in the presence of Almighty God alongside her son, Brent, brother-in-law, Eddie, and many other loved ones she knew throughout her life.
Donna will be incredibly missed by her siblings Brenda, John and Peter and their spouses Dennis, Joann and Susan. She was cherished by her in-laws, Eileen, Bob and Janet as well as her good friend Pam and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
Her warm and accepting spirit made her a true friend to members of her church family at Christ Church of Vero Beach Florida and her incredible neighbors at Vista Royal and Falcon Trace.
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts Donna married Richard in 1965 and had two children. They lived most of their married life in western Massachusetts and became snow-birds; settling in Vero Beach for the past 20 winters. In 2023 she and Ricard became Florida residents.
Donna leaves a legacy of nurturing to anyone who needed a hand and strength to those who had to face challenges on their own. She gave focus to those who sweat the small stuff and wisdom to anyone troubled and in need of advice. She loved to make friends, had an uncanny ability to stay motivated, and enjoyed life’s simple things like walking on the beach, reading the Bible, planting a flower garden, decorating for holidays and gathering friends for an afternoon game of dominos.
Words can’t express how deeply she’ll be missed, or how profoundly she’s affected the lives of those closest to her.
A celebration of Donna’s life will take place at Christ Church on Saturday, November 30, at 1:00 pm, 667 20th St. Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored for a donation in Donna’s name to the VNA Hospice House (vnatc.com).
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Mary Honora Runyon, 78, Vero Beach
October 4, 1946 – November 25, 2024
Mary Honora Runyon went home to Jesus on November 25, 2024, surrounded by her family in Vero Beach, FL.
Better known to her family as Mimi, she taught all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that the Lord was preparing a palace for each of them in Heaven, and that Her’s was made of chocolate. This heavenly accommodation couldn’t be bestowed on a more grateful or deserving subject, as Mary devoted her life to serving God.
She was born in Albany, NY to Mary and Nicholas Ferra on October 4, 1946. The family was completed with the birth of her younger brother, John Ferra, and they later settled in South Florida. Through her friend and future brother-in-law, Jim, she met her husband Billy “Bill” Runyon. They were married on November 23, 1967. Together, they raised their oldest three children: Michael, Elizabeth, and Jonathan, living in many different cities around the United States, eventually settling again in Vero Beach.
Always thrifty, she excelled at using whatever resources she had on hand to make sure that her children never felt like they were missing out on anything. Once, when her family stayed in a hotel during Halloween, she sent the young children out and had them “Trick-or-Treat” at their own hotel room over and over again and gave them a different treat every time that they knocked on her door. When her children heard about the elusive “ice cream sandwich,” Mary was proud to serve them ice cream in between two pieces of whole wheat toast.
She was our very own Amelia Bedelia. A woman of modest tastes, Mary loved a good chili dog, the occasional Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen, and of course, anything and everything chocolate. Her family often joked that her favorite Mexican food was the Choco Taco. It was funny because it was true. From Sunday morning after breakfast, until way past lunchtime, it was well known that Mary was occupied with worship, having been a faithful member of New Hope Ministries for the past 40 years. She was known to attend services at multiple different churches in a single day and loved any opportunity to partake in fellowship with her congregation whenever she knew that the church doors would be unlocked.
Many around her appreciated Mary as a resource to boost their own prayer requests, knowing that she would assemble many women of God to help. Whenever you saw Mimi, she would give you a list of who you needed to be praying for and why. If anyone had earned God’s ear, it was Sister Mary. After Michael, Elizabeth, and Jonathan were out of the house, she became a caretaker to her father until his death, earning her CNA license in the meantime. Later, Mary babysat for a young girl named Taylor, who was eventually adopted into the family as their youngest daughter. Though she and Bill were already in their 50’s, they were thrilled to welcome their newest blessing. When Bill’s mother, Maggie Lee, became ill, Mary went right back into action and once again became a caretaker in the final years of her mother-in-law’s life, and well into Mary’s own 7th decade.
After Maggie’s death, Mary utilized her newfound free time to spend with her grandchildren and to welcome into the world her great-grandchildren. She often said that she couldn’t believe she was a great-grandmother, since she never knew she was even a good grandmother! Not only was she great, but she was the best to ever bear the title. Notably, she served as a beloved chauffeur, frequently picking up her grandchildren from school, first in the 90’s for her oldest grandchild and namesake, Mary, and up until just weeks before her death in 2024. The children were blessed to know that no matter how rough school was, Mimi was excited to see them at the end of the day, and she was always more than willing to stop for a treat on the way home. In her final years, she went to California to fetch her younger brother, John, so that she could take care of him in her home. They loved their time together, driving around town and running errands, reigniting their sibling bond, as if they were children again. It was through her savior, Jesus, that she found the strength to continue taking care of her loved ones until the very end of her life, refusing assistance. It was a delicate dance for her daughter, Elizabeth, to take care of Mary in her final years, without letting her find out that she was being taken care of. In her own words, she “likes to be independent,” and it showed in every moment of her time on Earth.
Now, after 78 years thinking of everyone but herself, she sits with her mother and father inside of her glorious Heavenly palace of chocolate, and she is finally at rest.
Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Mary, her father, Nicholas, stepmother, Syble, and mother in-law, Maggie.
Mary is survived by her husband, Bill, her brother, John, her sister in prayer, Diana (Ron), her children, Michael (Stacy), Elizabeth (Paul), Jonathan (Andria), and Taylor, grandchildren, Mary “Beth” (William), Grace-Lynn, Emily, Nila, Nicholas, Jordyn, Eleanor, and Emma, and great-grandchildren, Irelia and Jaxon.
In honor of Mary Honora Runyon, who would not want you to grieve for her, we encourage you to do the things she loved: eat some chocolate, play Tetris, help a stranger, spend time with your family, and pray.
Funeral services will be held at 1pm , Saturday, November 30, 2024 at New Hope Ministries, 4425 71st St, Vero Beach, FL 32967.
Interment will follow at Winter Beach Cemetery.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Stanley A. Malan, 95
September 19, 1929 – November 27, 2024
Born on September 19, 1929 in Valdalia, IL, Stan was the son of Gladys M. Moore and John P. Malan.
He was married to his longtime sweetheart Nancy Camilla Harris (deceased) of Greenville, Il just before enlisting into the Army.
Expecting to be sent to the Army school for physical/athletics instructors at Ft. Lee, VA, he was instead sent to Okinawa. As Stan would always say, “God’s timing-not mine.”
Along with his regiment, Stan received a Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. He was a member of the most traveled division in the Far East. In eight months of action, the seventh division made two amphibious landings, traveled all the way from Pusan to the Manchurian border and fought on both coats of the Korean Peninsula.
Back home, Stan began his long career as an aeronautical design engineer, working at such places as Lockheed in Atlanta, GA., Pratt + Whitney in West Palm Beach, FL, Gulfstream in Savannah, GA among many other companies.
Stan is survived by his daughter Sydney Janette Keirstead and her husband Herb, his daughter Vicki Diane Hammett and her husband Cliff, his daughter Jo Ellen Malan and her partner Jack Pacot and his son Curtis Allan Malan; grandchildren Bradley Myers, Benjamin Myers, Christina Dumont, Rebecca Chambers, Renee Keirstead, Michelle Keirstead, Patrick Keirstead and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Lynn Malan, Avis Bergen and husband Delmar and Donna Bellinger and husband Greg.
Stan’s life was a blessing in so many ways, from his time in the service, throughout his career, the love of his family and knowing he would be going to his “Heavenly Home” in “God’s timing-Not Mine.”
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Carol Anne Trax, 84
October 28, 1940 – November 19, 2024
Carol Anne Trax, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2024, at the age of 84. She was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on October 28, 1940, to Karl Haas and Martha Osterman.
Carol was a passionate and dedicated educator and spiritual leader whose life was devoted to both learning and service. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster in Ohio, followed by a graduate degree from New York University in 1963. Carol continued her academic journey by earning a graduate degree from Columbia Theological Seminary in Georgia in 1994, and in 1996, she earned her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, which marked a significant milestone in her spiritual and professional life.
Carol married Michael A. Trax in January 1970, and together they shared a life filled with love, faith, and purpose. Michael predeceased her on March 17, 2013. Their union was a strong and loving foundation for Carol’s life and work.
Her professional career spanned several decades, deeply rooted in both ministry and education. She retired in 2012 from The Community Church of Vero Beach, where she had served with love and devotion for many years. Before this, Carol was the Director of Children’s Education at Peace Presbyterian Church in Port Salerno, Florida, and First Presbyterian in North River Shores. Earlier in her career, she taught 7th and 8th grade math at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
After her retirement, Carol devoted herself to caring for her late husband, Michael, and remained actively involved in her community. She served on the board of Habitat for Humanity, volunteering regularly at the ReStore, and was also a board member of the Homeless Association of Indian River County. Her commitment to service and her compassionate nature touched the lives of all who knew her.
Carol is survived by her three children: Christopher Trax (Orlando, FL), Eric Trax (Vero Beach, FL), and Susan Trax Kruger (Sanford, FL), as well as five cherished grandchildren. She was deeply loved by her family and friends, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.
A service to celebrate Carol’s life will be held on December 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM at The Community Church of Vero Beach, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Indian River County Habitat for Humanity. Donations can be made online at https://www.irchabitat.org/donate.
For those wishing to send condolences or share memories of Carol, please visit her memorial page at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.
Carol’s legacy of love, faith, and service will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the lives of her family, friends, and community.
