From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Gladys Betty Carvajal Rojas, 89, Vero Beach
June 3, 1935 – February 25, 2025
Gladys Betty Carvajal Rojas, Age 89, passed away peacefully on February 25th, 2025 at Palm Garden Nursing Home and Rehab Facility in Vero Beach, FL surrounded by her loving family.
Gladys was born on June 3rd, 1935 in Tunja, Colombia to father Carlos Bernal and mother Araminta Rojas. At a young age her family relocated and she was raised in Bogota, Colombia.
Araminta’s cousin was the 19th president of Colombia Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, he was also one of the founders of the El Dorado International Airport in Bogota cerca 1955-1959. Sadly when Gladys was just five years old her mother passed away and she was left orphaned with her brother who grew up alongside her; Carlos Rojas.
As a young woman Gladys met her husband Campo Elias Carvajal, they were married for 63 years before she was left widowed.
Together they owned, operated, and manufactured five shoe stores in Bogota. They were able to have many employees and were helpful and generous to various people in their community and family.
Gladys moved to the United States in the 1980s. With her caring spirit she looked after numerous children. She also worked in citrus agriculture where she was cherished by her coworkers.
Spending the last part of her life in Vero Beach, FL she was able to live happy and peaceful. She was an active member of the Catholic Church throughout her life. Gladys was an elegant, intelligent, kind, strong and beautiful woman who was loved and admired by those who got to meet and know her. Gladys will forever be the respected Matriarch leader of her family. She loved spending quality time with her loved ones bonding over food, music, dancing, story-telling and laughter.
Her eyes would light up when her children grandchildren, great-grand children and others would visit. Some of her travels included Spain, Bahamas, Guatemala, and Colombia.
Gladys is preceded in death by husband Campo Elias Carvajal, her only son Carlos Carvajal, her daughter Alba Neli Carvajal who passed when she was 2 years old, her grandchild Angel Jesus Camacho who passed away as a baby, and her mother Araminta Rojas.
Survivors are four daughters Gilma Solis, Elsa Carvajal, Nancy Velasquez, Claudia Camacho, eleven grand children and ten great-grandchildren.
Mass Church Service to Celebrate the life of Gladys Betty Carvajal will take place Saturday, March 15th, 2025 at St. Helen’s Catholic Church at 10am. Interment will be at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
John J. Waite, 89, Florida
February 27, 1936 – March 4, 2025
John J. Waite, 89, passed away after living a full and adventurous life. Born on February 27, 1936, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Harold and Betty Rossi Waite, John was a hardworking man with a love for adventure.
After graduating from Westinghouse High School in 1954, John served in the U.S. Coast Guard in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1957, he began his sales career with National Cash Register before starting his own cash register business, which he ran until retiring in 1999. Like his father, John took great pride in his work ethic and passed those values on to his children, both of whom followed his lead and enjoyed successful careers in sales.
John lived by the motto “never stop moving,” and that’s exactly how he lived. Whether it was biking, kayaking, traveling, or capturing the beauty of wildlife with his camera, he was always on the go. John’s love of photography was undeniable—he never left home without a camera and never missed an opportunity to snap a great picture, even if it meant getting up close to an alligator. He would insist on his family watching endless slide shows of his bird photos—some of which they were convinced were just slightly different shots of the same bird—but it was all part of his charm! His love for the water led him to become a certified scuba diving instructor before moving to Florida in 1983 to be near the ocean, where he could dive as often as possible.
Known for his quick wit, sharp sense of humor, and an unfiltered honesty that could catch you by surprise, John was a joy to be around. His ability to make people laugh – sometimes when they least expected it – was one of his many gifts. His no-nonsense approach to life and his warm heart left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
John was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren. He never missed an opportunity to brag about them and share their accomplishments with anyone who would listen. His face would light up as he spoke about his son, John Waite (Cindy Waite) of Raleigh, NC; his daughter, Karen Franke (John Franke); and his grandchildren, Ashley Franke (Michael Shields), Dr. Aaron Franke (Bethani DeMaria), John Michael Waite, and Anna Grace Waite. He was also thrilled to welcome his great-grandson, Maximus Arthur Shields, and eagerly anticipated the arrival of his great-granddaughter, due in July.
John was a proud member of the Masons of Pennsylvania Infinity Lodge #546, Space Coast Paddlers, the Audubon Society, and the Indian River Photo Club. He loved sharing his photographs, especially of birds, and was thrilled to have some of his work published in local magazines.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his former wife, Genevieve Marie Waite.
A viewing will be held for friends and family at Strunk Funeral Home at 917 16th Street in Vero Beach on Monday, March 10th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Afterward, John will make his final journey home to Pittsburgh, where he will be laid to rest at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery alongside his parents.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to VNA Hospice in Vero Beach at
https://foundation.vnatsc.com/memorials-and-honorariums/#form
and/or Senior Resource Association at https://www.seniorresourceassociation.org/giving-matters/#donate.
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of JOHN J. WAITE, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Iris Candelaria Arroyo, 82, Florida
July 7, 1943 – March 4, 2025
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Iris Candelaria Arroyo, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and even great-great grandmother. Iris was born in a small town in Puerto Rico and later moved to Brooklyn, New York, where she built a life full of love, resilience, and dedication to her family.
A mother of eight, Iris was fiercely independent and hardworking. She spent 30 years at Brookdale Hospital, where she worked her way up from security guard to Assistant Director of Health Information Management. She was admired and respected by all who knew her.
After retiring in 2004, Iris moved to Florida, where she enjoyed being surrounded by her large and loving family. She had a passion for dancing, detective shows, and playing Dominoes with her children and grandchildren.
Iris is survived by her 8 children, 21 grandchildren, and many great- and great-great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered for the love and wisdom she shared.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8th 2025 at 11:00am Strunk Funeral Home 1623 N Central Avenue Sebastian, FL 32958.
Rest in peace, Mom. Your love and legacy live on.
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