Edward S. Gdula, 80, Vero Beach
Edward S. Gdula, 80, of Vero Beach, and a native of Auburn, N.Y., died May 22, 2018, in Vero Beach. He was a former resident of Camillus, N.Y., and resident in Manlius, N.Y.
Edward graduated from Alliance Technical Institute, Cambridge Springs, Pa., and graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Utica/Rome.
He was employed for 38 years as a civil engineer for the New York State Department of Transportation, from which he retired as Regional Utility Engineer. One of his most notable feats was to be the supervisor of the Auburn Dam, a structure which controlled the water level for a section of the Erie Canal.
He was past Grand Knight of Vero Beach Council 12141 Knights of Columbus and a member of the 4th Degree and served in the 403rd Civil Affairs Company, US Army Reserve. He was a member of the N.Y. State Association of Transportation Engineers and the Vero Beach Polish-American Social Club, a past member of the Syracuse Polish Community Club, a member of the Serra Club, a member of the Retired Public Employees Assoc., a Red Cross Volunteer, and a NYS Emergency Management Public Assistance Liaison.
Edward was a member of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Syracuse, N.Y., and a parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach.
In 1998, he was predeceased by his beloved wife of 37 and a half years, Eleanor T. “Ellie” Gdula.
Survivors include their daughters, Christine (Philip) Schreiber, of Cleveland, N.Y., and Kathleen Gdula, of Vero Beach; and son, Thomas E. (Kimberly), of Camillus, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Zacharia (Jennelle) Avery, and Rachel and Nathan Gdula; a great-grandson, Conner Avery; and goddaughter, Michelle Marzynski-Slosberg.
The family will receive friends 4-7 p.m., Thursday, May 24, at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach with a Prayer Service beginning at 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m., Friday, May 25, at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Samaritan Fund of Indian River Estates, 2250 Indian Creek Boulevard West, Vero Beach, FL 32966.
Edward will be transferred to Auburn, N.Y., for final services and interment at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Auburn.
Jean Stuart Merrill, 84, Vero Beach
Jean Stuart (nee Chace) Merrill, 84, died May 21, 2018 at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. She was born in Dartmouth, Mass., and moved from Fairhaven, Mass., to Little Compton, R.I., to the Moorings in Vero Beach.
She served as an organist in numerous churches, including the Seamen’s Bethel in New Bedford, Mass., where she played hundreds of services, weddings and funerals.
For the last two decades of her life, she was an active member at Christ Church in Vero Beach, regularly playing organ/piano duets with the Music Minister.
As a Life Master, she played Bridge with her first husband and met her second husband by playing that very game. She ran Duplicate Bridge games in New Bedford and taught hundreds the intricacies of the game.
Survivors include her husband, Greg Merrill, Sr.; three children and three stepsons and their spouses, Susan (Roy) Bailey, of N.H., Steven Rogers, of Mass., Stuart (Leithia) Rogers, of NYC, Gregory (Annette) Merril Jr., of Md., David (Julie) Merrill, of Maine, John (Heather) Merrill of Ct.; brother, Charles (Margaret) Chace, of Mass.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father William Stuart Chace, of Mass.; her mother, Muriel Mangham Chace; and her first husband, William Francis Rogers.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make any memorial contributions in her name to your favorite charities.
A Celebration of Life will be at a later date in Massachusetts.
Gladys M. Read, Vero Beach
Gladys M. Read, who has resided in Vero Beach since 1999, passed away Monday, May 21, 2018.
It is difficult to share the amount of lives that Gladys impacted and what a wonderful life she enjoyed. She gave generously of her time and talent to all the communities where she lived — New York, Miami, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Hendersonville, N.C., and Vero Beach.
Gladys, born in Manhattan, was a paralegal for a number of prestigious law firms in South Florida before retiring to Hendersonville, N.C.
However, she was best known for her community involvement, most recently, at Indian River Estates, Vero Beach, by assisting in a multitude of activities — the library; bingo; the Good Samaritan Fund; the Resident’s Board at Indian River Estates West as well as anything in which she was asked to participate.
In addition, she had volunteered at Friends of the Library, the Community Theatre and other non-profit organizations in Vero Beach.
Gladys has been recognized and honored for her years of leadership and service by a number of organizations and institutions. In addition to her service at Indian River Estates, other activities included serving as president of Opportunity House (NC); president of the Second Wind Hall of Fame (NC); developer and president of the Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning (NC); secretary and treasurer of the Friends of the Library (NC); vice president and secretary of the Four Seasons Arts Council (NC); the Community Foundation (NC); and much more.
Gladys was an avid reader, enjoyed people and life.
She will be missed by many, especially by her children — Peter Satterlee (Lillian) and Joy Satterlee (Fred Harris). She is also survived by her step-son, Matt Read; Ken Satterlee (grandson); and Kelley Satterlee (granddaughter).
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that anyone wishing to make a donation in her honor to the Good Samaritan Fund, Indian River Estates, 2250 Indian Creek Blvd W, Vero Beach, FL 32966 – Attn: Bruce Berlin.
Additionally, the family is grateful for the care given by VNA – Visiting Nurses Association (Hospice), 1110 35 Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, as another organization for a memorial donation.
Anyone wishing to share a story or send the family a message, visit Gladys’ memorial page at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.
Florence Lee Womack, 72, Vero Beach
Florence Lee Womack, 72, passed away May 19, 2018, at VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach. She was born Feb. 23, 1946, Monroe, La.
She is survived by son, Daniel Womack.
A Service will be held 3 p.m., Thursday, May 24, at First United Methodist Church, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1750 20th St., Vero Beach, FL 32960.
