From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Richard (Dick) Francis Mullens, 79, Vero Beach
September 01, 1942 – March 23, 2022
Richard (Dick) Francis Mullens, 79, of Vero Beach, Florida peacefully passed away on March 23, 2022, surrounded by loved ones.
Dick was born on September 1, 1942, to Bernice (Babe) and Joseph Mullens in Boston, Massachusetts. A gifted athlete, Dick played varsity football at Natick High School and was captain of the hockey team at Great Barrington Preparatory. Dick graduated from Great Barrington Preparatory School in 1961. After graduation, he went on to study business and played hockey at Boston College.
Dick worked in the home building and real estate industry for almost 50 years. He started out in New England then moved to south Florida in 1983 where he went on to develop and sell homes in a number of communities until his retirement in 2018. Dick was passionate about home building and real estate and loved what he did for a living.
Dick met his wife Heidi in 1993 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For 30 years, Heidi was the love of his life and his constant companion. They eventually built a home in Vero Beach and had a wonderful life together.
Dick enjoyed boating, golf, and fishing. He loved the ocean and time on the water. He relished his time with friends, dining out and entertaining. Dick was generous and kind. Quick with a joke or funny story, he loved people and always did his best to make everyone around him laugh and feel welcome.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Babe, his son Brian and his stepson Arthur Levy. Dick is survived by his wife Heidi, son Brad, daughter in law Nel and grandsons, Gavin, Riley and Liam of Park Ridge, Illinois, stepson Christopher Levy, daughter in law Sanya and granddaughter Savannah of Kingston, Jamaica, niece Maya Meldrum of Chelsea, Quebec, and daughter in law Angie DiGioia.
Services and a memorial celebration of Dick’s life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to: H.A.L.O. Animal Rescue, 710 Jackson Street, Sebastian, Florida 32958 (772) 589- 7297 or a charitable organization of your choice.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Santa Caban, 61
March 07, 1961 – March 23, 2022
Santa Caban, age 61, died 23rd of March 2022 at Celebration Florida.
She was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. She retired from being a Professional Chef but never stopped cooking for EVERYONE she knew and loved!
She provided donations to abused women in shelters.
Survivors include: Her longtime partner of 15 years, Kim Creech. From her oldest to youngest David Rodriguez, Norberto Gonzalez, Angelica Gonzalez, Dolores Nagy, Darlene Torgeson, Sophia Duffield & Tonya Passley (deceased child)
Brothers and sisters: Edwardo Caban, Marylou Pryor, Carmen Martinez, Wilfredo Caban, Angelica Caban, Ralphie Caban and Laura Rivera.
Grandmother to 22 grandchildren that she dearly loved!!
She was known for being a light in everyone’s life. She left each of her loved ones with an impact of spreading praise and love. She will forever be missed by everyone’s lives she has touched. She will never be forgotten and her spirit will forever live in each of us! We LOVE YOU!
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Kathleen Mary McGowan, 59, Vero Beach
September 23, 1962 – March 21, 2022
Kathleen Mary McGowan, age 59, passed away on March 21.
Born in 1962 the youngest of seven children, Kathy lived in Malverne, New York graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes School and Malverne High School before moving to Vero Beach with her parents in 1981 and completing her education with an AA in child development from Indian River Community College.
During 29 years of work at the Indian River Public Library, Kathy set up media for public events and supervised public use of library computers, in the process helping many grateful patrons navigate unfamiliar technology. In addition, she supported her mother Madeline McGowan through a decade of chronic illness, first with care at home and then with daily visits to the care facility.
As a sister and aunt, Kathy hosted visitors, served as the point person for family news, and became famous for seeking out BOGO sales and starting Christmas shopping in July. In recent years, Kathy actively participated in Vero Beach Friends and Baby Boomer social groups, especially enjoying board game nights and trivia matches.
Kathy is survived by sisters Barbara McGowan, Pat McGowan, Mary McGowan, and Jane McGowan d’Entremont and brothers John and Kevin McGowan; 7 nieces and nephews and 3 grand-nieces and nephews.
Funeral service 10 am, April 4 at St. Helen’s RC Church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Friends of the Indian River County Library.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of KATHLEEN MARY McGOWAN, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
James Michael Magee, 58, Hutchinson Island
November 7, 1963 – March 17, 2022
James Michael Magee passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the age of 58.
Beloved husband of Denise Cunningham Magee for 12 years.
Loving father of Mary Catherine Magee (Seiji Schoppert) and Anne Virginia Magee.
Son of the late Robert Magee Sr and Gladys Lemmon Magee.
Brother of Teresa (Rob) VanFossen, Michael Magee and the late Robert Magee Jr (Luz).
Uncle to Kristian, Stephanie, LeighAnn, Bobby, Eddie, Maria, Chris, Kelly, Megan, Manus, Shannon, Faith, Max, Molly, and Jacob. Also survived by his dearest cousin Celeste Stein along with many great nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Jim was a native of Philadelphia and a resident of Hutchinson Island, FL as well as Nova Scotia, Canada.
Jim was a graduate of Abington High School Class of 1981. He graduated Penn State University with a BS in computer Science in 1985. Jim had a long career as a software engineer most prominently with IBM and Apple. He was in his 24th year with Apple as a Senior Software Engineer on the Mac OS/Darwin Kernel Team.
Jim was a very kind and gentle man with a great love for his family and friends. He loved to cook, BBQ, and have folks over to share his many stories. He will always be remembered for his famous rib dinners.
Jim’s passion for architecture and design led to his love for renovating homes and always having a project going at home. Jim loved to travel with friends and family on cruises, to the Keys, the islands, Europe and local trips in Florida just to get away were always fun. The next adventures he was planning were to Zurich, Australia and New Zealand.
He loved sports and will always be rooting for his beloved Flyers, Eagles and Penn State.
WE ARE! E-A-G-L-E-S!
Golf was his weekly getaway with his buddies. They would make their rounds at the many courses in Central Florida and always have lunch after to catch up. His buddies – Mike, Ray and Dr Phil will miss him greatly. His most cherished golfing partner Bobby Magee will keep his passion for golf close to his heart.
The family will be doing a private celebration of life by invite only. Jim loved boating, fishing and just being around water. His wishes are to be buried at sea.
We will be setting up a scholarship fund at Penn State University for computer science students in Jim’s honor. A link will be shared soon.
Thank you all to our family and friends for your messages of support and love. Denise, Mary, and Annie are most appreciative.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of JAMES MICHAEL MAGEE, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Elizabeth Ann Brack, 83, Sebastian
August 15, 1938 – March 20, 2022
Elizabeth Ann Brack (August 15, 1938 — March 20, 2022) lived a beautiful and exciting life.
Ann (she hated the name Elizabeth,) was born in Altoona, PA to Walter and Nellie Smithmyer. She was the seventh of eight children.
After graduating from Altoona High School, Ann married and had three children with her first husband, Mike, Linda and Eric. Over the years, she also had a number of her children’s friends that came to refer to her as “Mom.”
An artist from a very young age, Ann was invited to help paint the Christmas scenes in the windows of Altoona’s Gables Department Store. In more modern times, she may have taken up work in an artistic profession. As time passed, she exercised her talent, doing drawings, painting and ceramics, but her real masterpiece was the life she lived, the memories she made and the stories she was able to tell.
Over the years, life took her from Altoona to homes in Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, before she settled in the Sebastian, FL area in the early 1980’s.
She and her second husband, Orville Brack, decided to live close to Cape Canaveral after Orville retired from NASA’s Space Shuttle program at Goddard Spaceflight Center. They wanted to be close enough to watch the shuttle launches.
After Orville’s passing, Ann spent most of her time with the many members of her family who followed her to the Sebastian area.
During her life, Ann worked in several diverse professions. She had been a secretary, Realtor and civil servant.
One of the most memorable aspects of Ann’s life was her love for animals — especially wild birds. As a lifetime bird watcher, she spent hours enjoying the birds that visited her feeders. Even to the very end, while she lay in the hospital, she insisted her daughter, Linda, leave her side and go home to feed the birds outside her porch window.
Ann is survived by three children, Mike Lohsl (Connie), Linda Lohsl Blasko (Michael) and Eric Lohsl (Michele), five grandchildren, Sarah, Jonathan, Josh, Emily and Jessica, and one great-granddaughter, Maggie. Of her seven siblings, she is survived by sisters Lou and Janet as well as her brother, Don, and their families.
She is preceded in death by the father of her children, Jerry Lohsl, her second husband, Orville Brack, sisters Marion and Alma and brothers Pete and Jack.
It was Ann’s wish to forgo a formal service or memorial, leaving each person who knew her to share the stories they shared together as the opportunity presents itself.
In every moment of her life, Ann was a force of nature who left incredible memories to all who knew and loved her.
Arrangements are entrusted to Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Ann Brack, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Jeffrey Nagy, 64, Vero Beach
March 14, 1957 – March 14, 2022
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Jeffrey Nagy, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Richard Meiklejohn, 87, Sebastian
March 15, 1935 – March 19, 2022
Richard Meiklejohn of Sebastian, Florida, born March 15, 1935, passed away late Saturday night with family at his side and in his thoughts. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 67 years, Rosemarie. He is survived by his daughter Kathleen (& Thomas), his son Christopher (& Victoria), his grandson Zachary (& Christina) and his granddaughter Eloise.
Richard spent much of working and retired life actively traveling both domestically within the US and overseas. “Richie & Rosie” set foot on every continent of the world with the sole exception of Antarctica, though Richard noted they “got within striking distance” on an unorthodox icebreaker cruise through the Straits of Magellan, South America. Richard’s zeal for travel was a perennial topic of conversation, and he took every opportunity to encourage his loved ones to experience the beauty of the natural world as well as the diversity of international cultures.
Richard was a committed husband, sharing a deep and knowing connection with Rosemarie, the love of his life since they were in their teens. In addition to their shared love of travel, the couple developed a diverse range of interests and were greatly involved in their communities. Through their 67 years of marriage, they lived in multiple locations along the Eastern Seaboard, from New Jersey to the area surrounding Washington, DC. In their retirement, they settled in Sebastian for the warm weather and ample access to ports for globetrotting.
The couple’s Sebastian community held many friends new and old. Just as Rosemarie was involved in multiple art and craft groups, nurturing an ever-present passion for creative pursuits, Richard participated in community games of chance and skill and was a treasured presence in poker games and dart baseball. John Sammon, a former coworker and confidant, was his dearest friend in the later years of Richard’s life, just as he had been during their careers with Bendix in New York City. John and his wife Lillian joined them on some of their worldwide jaunts and they celebrated many occasions together as treasured traveling companions and friends.
Richard and Rosemarie’s ashes are going to be put to rest under a growing sapling, overlooking a lake or river, so that they may continue to enrich the world beyond their years. No funeral ceremonies have been planned for Richard, but he and his family extend their wishes that those who knew him keep his memory alive in their hearts, particularly in the coming days.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Richard William Meiklejohn, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Melody Joan Frankenfield, 70, Treasure Coast
June 15, 1951 – March 20, 2022
Melody Joan Frankenfield, beloved daughter of musician and band leader Parke Frankenfield and Joan (Tersigni) Frankenfield, wife of charter boat captain and raconteur Charles ‘Cokie’ Chapman, died on Sunday, March 20, 2022, at 70 years of age, and passed into life eternal in Jesus.
Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley (PA), she lived and worked there the first half of her life. The second half she spent in the Treasure Coast (FL).
Melody loved to laugh (and make people laugh), jitterbug, and collect miniatures. Music – especially that of 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s – was always at the center of her life. She sang professionally with her father’s combo and big band under her stage name, Melody Layne. Among all these passions and gifts she was a decorator extraordinaire.
In 1974 she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord and strived to serve and grow in Him to the end of her days. In her battle with cancer, Melody rested in His promises to her and to all (“whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”).
She is survived by her husband, ‘Cokie’, her step-daughter Christine Chapman, her sister, Terri Lee (Frankenfield) Carter, her niece, Sunny (Carter) Crnkovich and a host of relatives.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022 from 1 – 2 P.M. at Melody’s home, 1524 Eastlake Lane, Sebastian, FL 32958. All are welcome.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Melody J. Frankenfield, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Earl “Leo” Norton, 78, New York
April 14, 1943 – March 16, 2022
Earl “Leo” Norton 78, passed away on Wednesday March 16th in Vero Beach FL.
He was Born in Fulton NY and was a life-long resident of Fulton and Hannibal NY.
He was employed with Nestles Chocolate Factory of Fulton NY of 37years until the day they closed the plant in 2004. Drove School Bus for many years with the Mexico and Hannibal School Districts. A Veteran of the United States Air Force. A member of the American Legion Post #1552 in Hannibal NY.
Surviving are his two Daughters Crystal Chesnut of Vero Beach Fl, and Dawn Clark of Georgia. Five Grandchildren and 6 great Grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in Death of 1st wife Joyce N. Lawrence “Norton” of Central Square NY. and 2nd wife Phyliss Norton of Martville, NY.
A private memorial service will be held in Hannibal NY at a later date. In lieu of Flowers donations can be made to the American Legion or to Hospice to help others in need.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Earl Leo Norton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
