Marilyn Joanne Debus, 86, Vero Beach
Marilyn Joanne Debus (nee Sjoholm) 86, passed away Sunday July 29, 2018, in Vero Beach.
She was born Jan. 28, 1932, in Chicago Heights, Ill., to Arthur and Emily Sjoholm (nee Lodtko).
Marilyn was a wife, mother and homemaker. She enjoyed her family foremost, followed by sewing, painting, stained glass, ceramics and any other crafts to pass the time.
She graduated from Bloom High School in Chicago Heights and relocated to Vero Beach from Glenwood Ill., in 1985.
She was an active member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
She married Ronald Leonard Debus of Chicago Heights on July 11, 1953. He preceded her in death on Dec. 15, 2005.
She is survived by her sons, Karl Leonard Debus, of Tinley Park Ill., and Jon Eric Debus (wife, Mary Debus), of N. Hutchinson Island, Fla.; four grandchildren, Jake Debus and Kendra Debus, of Tinley Park, and Eric Debus and Ian Debus, of N. Hutchinson Island; two great-grandchildren, Savanna Debus and Sofia Debus, both of Tinley Park.
A Memorial Service is planned for Aug. 18 at Redeemer Lutheran Church located at 900 27th Ave., Vero Beach, at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Hospice House of Vero Beach.
Elsa Garcia, 99, Fellsmere
Elsa Garcia, 99, of Fellsmere, passed away July 30, 2018, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. She was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, lived in Fellsmere since the early ’60s then moved to Miami for seven years prior to returning to Vero Beach in February 2018.
Elsa worked as a manager at GNC for 11 years prior to her retirement and also at the Garcia Ranch.
She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach. Elsa loved to dance, her scotch, loved her family and enjoyed life.
Survivors include her daughter, Elsie “Nena” Garcia, of Vero Beach; sons, Frank R. Garcia (Cheryl), of Lynhurst, N.J., and Manny Garcia, Jr. (Margaret), of Vero Beach; grandsons, Wes Garcia (Michele), of Vero Beach, and Michael Garcia, of Sebastian; granddaughter, Gigi Garcia, of Vero Beach; and great-grandchildren, Lauren Davis, of Ocoee, and Amber Forrest, of Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to your favorite pet charity in memory of Elsa Garcia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 1 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 4, at St. Helen Church, Vero Beach.
Barbara Murray, 67, Vero Beach
Barbara Murray, 67, died unexpectedly in Vero Beach on July 29, 2018. Barbara was born in Buffalo, N.Y.
She graduated from Tonawanda Senior High School, and earned an associate’s degree from Bryant and Stratton College.
In 1985, Barb and Mike moved to Florida to be closer to family. Her career included administrative assistant for the State of New York Department of the Governor, Property Manager and Weight Watchers Instructor.
Barbara is survived by her companion, Michael LaRusso; sister, Susan Curtis, cousin, Sandy Bullers; niece, Colleen Towers; nephew, Patrick Dugan; and two great-nephews, William and Huck.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Phyllis and Hugh Murray.
A celebration of life is scheduled for Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach, with a reception to follow at The Plaza next door to the funeral home. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Barb’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Visiting Nurses Association.
Margaret Ann Hughes Zelko, 75, Vero Beach
Margaret Ann Hughes Zelko, 75, passed away after a brief illness July 29, 2018, in Vero Beach. Margy was born in Britt, Iowa, to Dean and Helen (Munson) Hughes on July 18, 1943.
After graduating from the College of Saint Teresa and Saint Mary’s School of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic, she was a nurse for a number of years at the New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York City where she met and married her beloved husband of 49 years, Dr. Russell R. Zelko.
Later in Ithaca, N.Y., she pursued her passion for interior decorating and design and her love for buying and selling antiques. She loved taking courses in design at Cornell University’s College for Art, Architecture and Planning and treasured her trips to New York City’s design center and a vast array of antique shops/shows throughout Upstate New York, New England and the Southeast.
Margy felt deeply that homes are sacred spaces that must be uniquely adorned and cherished to provide dignity, warmth, peace and inspiration to feed the souls of all who inhabit them.
She worked tirelessly toward this end for most of her life with a remarkable eye for detail and an especially creative ability to combine colors, styles, fabrics, furniture and accessories.
She was always delighted to help friends and family with design ideas and was ready and willing to help out with every move, whether to tiny apartments or larger homes.
She will be dearly missed!
She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Eric Zelko. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Russell R. Zelko; brother, Timothy (Nancy) Hughes, of Rochester, N.Y.; daughters, Hilary Zelko (Stuart Donovan), of Atlanta, Ga., and Katherine Zelko, of West Hartford, Ct.; and her four beloved grandchildren, Angelika Zelko, Dominik, Markus and Anthony Blascak.
Arrangements for memorial to be made at the convenience of the family.
