Obituaries

Alberta Lillian SanSouci

ALBERTA LILLIAN SANSOUCI, 81

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Alberta Lillian SanSouci, 81, passed away due to cancer, 11/14/2008, at her home.

Born in Piscataway, New Jersey 7/13/1927, Mrs. SanSouci moved to Miami in the 1950's. She and her husband moved to Lakeland in 1997.

She is survived by her husband, Henry G. SanSouci, and a loving family. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Tuesday, 11/18/2008 at 5:30pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes Dukes-Steen Chapel, 1833 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2590 Havendale Blvd. N.W. in Winter Haven.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

John C. Helman

 

JOHN C. HELMAN, 72

Firefighter

LAKELAND - John C. Helman died Nov. 15, 2008 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center due to heart failure. He was 72.

Mr. Helman was born in Allentown, PA and moved to Lakeland 14 years ago. He was a Firefighter for the City of Allentown for 33 years, was a member of the Allentown Firefighters and a lifetime member of Pioneer Fire Company. He played in the Allentown City Softball League as a pitcher, enjoyed golfing, was an avid fisherman when he was younger and was a member of North Lakeland Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Helman is survived by his wife of 31 years Barbara Helman, sons John C. (Belinda) Helman, Jr., Ronald A. (Paulette) Helman, William Hamersly, Robert Hamersly, Dennis Miller, daughters Cheryl L. (Ron) Sallada, Judy L. (Carlton) LaFong, brother James Helman, sister Sally Jane Hunter, 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday Nov. 22 at 4:00 PM at North Lakeland Presbyterian Church, 6725 N. Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland, FL 33809. Memorials may be made to the church building fund.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Brian Jones

BRIAN JONES, 49

Marine Mechanic

LAKELAND - Brian Jones died Monday November 10, 2008 due to a pedestrian/vehicle accident. He was 49.

Mr. Jones was born in Trenton, NJ and moved to Florida in 1990. He was a marine mechanic and an avid boater and fisherman.

Mr. Jones is survived by three sons, Dakota Jones, Lakeland, Dustin Jones, Lakeland, Brian Verdi, Trenton, NJ, lifetime friend and companion Laura Sherman, Lakeland, and brother Kenneth (Anna Teri) Jones, Florence Township, NJ.

A memorial service will be held Saturday November 15 at 12 noon at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. The family will receive friends from 11 - 12 prior to the service.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Rolf Kummich

ROLF KUMMICH, 77

J.C. Penney

LAKELAND - Rolf M. Kummich, age 77, was born December 31, 1930 in Chemnitz, Germany. He ended his journey this November 10, 2008, due to cancer, at his home in Lakeland.

He immigrated to the US in 1956, lived in Niagara Falls, NY for 6 years and Bergen and Morris Counties, NJ for 28 years. He worked for J.C. Penney Corporation's NYC headquarters and retired as a systems analyst. He was very involved with the German American Club in Schuetzen Park, NJ. He was a member and treasurer of the German American Club in Lakeland.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Magda Kummich. He is survived by his son, Hans (Grace) Lipinski of Newton, NJ, his granddaughter Jewel R. Enriquez, sister Giesela Wesenberg, Potsdam, Germany, other family, Regina and Ed Warner and his friend, Loraine Stehle.

The family requests that donations be made to the ASPCA or Good Shepherd Hospice. Condolences may be made to the family at gentry-morrison.com.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

Vivian Benecia Brower

VIVIAN BENECIA BROWER, 95

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Vivian B. Brower died 11/11/08 of resp. failure.

Survived by 4 children, 13 grand, 28 great and great grandchildren.

Service will be held on  Friday, 11/14/08, at 1pm Oak Hill Cem.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel. 

Hugh Riesdorph

HUGH RIESDORPH, 84

LAKELAND - Hugh Riesdorph, 84, died of heart failure 11/10/08.

Survived by wife, Pat; daughters, Pat and Fran;  son, Hugh.

Service will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, 11/13/08, at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

Charles W. Claridy

CHARLES W. CLARIDY, 76

Painting Contractor

LAKELAND - Mr. Charles Wedrell Claridy, 76, passed away on Monday Nov. 10, 2008 at LRMC due to complications from diabetes.

He was born January 5, 1932 in Lakeland, FL to Russell and Zinnie Claridy. A lifelong Floridian and resident of Lakeland, Charles graduated from Lakeland High School. He joined the Navy in 1951 and served during the Korean War as a swimming instructor for Navy pilots and played service football. After returning to Lakeland, he married Jeanette and had four children. He was active in the PTA, Band Boosters, and was a Little League baseball coach. He was a member of the Lakeland Hills Boulevard Church of Christ and served for many years as a deacon and song leader.
Charles had several professions during his 40 years of business life in Lakeland, including landscaping contractor, service station owner, real estate agent, and painting contractor. He was a member of Lakeland North Rotary for over 30 years, and was honored as a Paul Harris fellow for 25 years of dedicated service. Charles and Jeanette celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 10, 2007 at the Kathleen Area Historical Society, where they were both members. His hobbies included aviation, cars, fishing, and woodworking.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette Claridy; a son, Nathan Claridy of Cary, IL; three daughters, Stephan Marschall of Lakeland, FL, Allison Turner of Woodstock, GA, Rachel Miller of Lakeland, FL; a brother, Bill Claridy of Lakeland, FL; a sister, Frankie Bishop of Clarksville, IN; eight grandchildren, Kirk Marschall, Nolan Claridy, Erin Claridy, Keith Marschall, Blaine & Bailey Miller, Quinn Turner and Clara Turner.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the (JDRF) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
A visitation will be on Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home-Northside Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 AM at the Lake Gibson Church of Christ, 4601 N. Socrum Loop Road.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Henry Anzalone

HENRY ANZALONE, 78

LAKELAND - Henry "Anzie" Anzalone of Lakeland, died Nov. 6, 2008 in Tampa at Kindred Bay Area Hospital due to heart failure. He was 78.

Mr. Anzalone was born in East Boston, Mass. and moved to Lakeland in 1995 from Wakefield, Mass. He worked in Industrial Relations for Semi-Conductors. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran serving during the Korean Conflict and was a member of Allepo Shrine, American Legion, 32nd degree Mason and belonged to several professional organizations. He also was a member of a Bocce club in Massachusetts.

Mr. Anzalone is survived by his wife Gloria Anzalone, Lakeland, brot-hers Pasquale and Anthony Anzalone, sister Concetta DeRosa, all of Mass., sister in law Mary Sterling, Lakeland and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Interment will take place at Florida National Cemetery Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 10 am.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Richard "Dick" Allen Kitchens

RICHARD "DICK" ALLEN KITCHENS, 72

Supervisor

LAKELAND - Mr. Richard "Dick" Allen Kitchens, 72, passed away Nov. 9, 2008 of heart failure.

Mr. Kitchens was born in Lakeland on June 14, 1936 to Remer and Annie Kitchens, and remained a lifelong resident of the area. He was a supervisor for Union Camp for 35 years. Mr. Kitchens was a member of Dixieland Baptist Church, and the National Guard. He was an outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, photography and woodworking.

Mr. Kitchens was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Reva McAlister and Sue Spivey. He is survived by his step daughters, Wanda Sams and Sharon Lynn; sisters, Helen Mitchell, Emily Alvarez and Ruth Grady.

Visitation will be Wed. from 6-8 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. Graveside services will be conducted Thurs. at 11 a.m. at New Home Baptist Church Cemetery.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Peter Ketcham Hempstead

PETER KETCHAM HEMPSTEAD, 89

Building Contractor

ST. PETERSBURG - Mr. Peter Ketcham Hempstead, 89, passed away Wed. 11/5/2008 at the Masonic Home of Florida in St. Petersburg due to respiratory failure.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois 7/23/1919 and moved to Lakeland in 1950. Mr. Hempstead was a prominent building contractor (Hempstead Building Corporation) in the 1950's, 60's and early 70's. He moved to St. Petersburg in 2007. He was a veteran of the United States Navy. He was a member of United Methodist Temple in Lakeland. He was a Mason.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Arlene Hempstead. He is survived by his sons: Raymond P. Hempstead of St. Petersburg, Lowell D. Hempstead of Lakeland, and Barry A. Hempstead of Mulberry, 5 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Thur. from 10-11am at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. in Lakeland. Funeral services will follow at 11am with interment at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.