Mr. James N. Gentile
James Nicholas Gentile, 79, of Bradenton, passed away August 4, 2014.
He is survived by a large and loving family.
James was laid to rest at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville FL.
Mrs. Mary A. Figari
Mary Anna Figari, 85, passed away August 8, 2014.
She is survived by her son, Louis, wife Wanda, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A later service is planned in New Jersey.
Donations in her memory, may be made to Tidewell Hospice.
Mr. William Anthony Chisum (CJ)
William Anthony Chisum (CJ), 19, of Bradenton, passed away on August 7, 2014.
William is survived by his Parents Patrick and Angela, Brother Shawn, Sisters Katelynn and Gina. Momo Annabelle and Papa Tom. Aunt Theresa and Uncle Brian. Grandma Annie and Papa Bob. Papa Jerry and Grandma BJ. Aunt Chrissy and Uncle Ray and Aunt Rynda and Uncle Joel. great-grandma Flatman and many cousins; Kail, Tiffany, Ashley, Molly, Fiona, Jessica, Missa, Aaryn.
William was born
in Mesquite Texas. He was diagnosed at birth with Type 1 Diabetes, and had several other medical complications that he endured. He was able to bless his family with 19 years and was a recent graduate of Bayshore High School in 2014.
CJ loved music, video games, Lego's, Pokemon and cars. He will be greatly missed.
Mr. Joshua L. Nacht
Joshua Lee Nacht, 44, of Parrish, passed away on August 8, 2014.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly, sons; Adam, Austin, and Logan and daughter Sierra.
Private family services.
Mr. Richard "Dick" Lawrence Mirisola
Richard "Dick" Lawrence Mirisola, 83, of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, died of natural causes on August 7, 2014.
Dick was born
in Pittston, Pennsylvania to Gaetano and Marianna Mirisola (nee Belcastro)
From an early age Dick had a fascination and skill with building things, using discarded objects to create new inventions, such as building a scooter out of old roller skates.
Dick played on the conference winning Pittston City High School football team, where he played both offense and defense. Despite his small stature, his quickness allowed him to shine as a receiver. He graduated in 1950.
He served four years as a medic for the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Eventually, working on the maternity ward caring for babies and mothers. His fondness for and care of these babies was a highlight in his life.
He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Where, as a student he built a unique wind tunnel for improving aeronautical designs.
Dick worked for North American Aviation (which later merged with Rockwell International), creating defense missile design and guidance systems. His designs were so solid and innovative that some continue to be used to defend America today. He also worked on the Apollo Space Program as part of the team that built the emergency egress system on the top of the rocket capsule.
Dick had four children with Pauline - Mark, Theresa, Marianne and Joseph.
He married Sylvia Nesser in March 1981. In his deep love for her he traveled the world sailing the seas around Florida and the Bahamas, and lit the dance floor on fire with a disco flair.
In the last years, Dick once again turned his eyes to the heavens as he improved his telescopes with his engineering expertise. Now, Dick is in the heavens, he helped others reach and started longingly towards.
Dick is survived by his sisters, Connie Haze and Vito Provenzano. He is predeceased by his parents, three brothers, a sister and two children.
Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 10:30am Our Lady of Angles Catholic Church. Dicks ashes will be interred in the church's Memorial Garden.
Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation, please send it to the church that was so important to Dick, Our Lady of Angles Catholic Church, 12905 E State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
Mr. Frank F. Kerpen
Frank F. Kerpen, 97, Bradenton, passed away July 26, 2014.
Frank was born
April 21, 1917, in Jersey City NJ, to the late Frank F. and Elizabeth (Meyer) Kerpen. He was raised on Long Island NY, and attributed his excellent driving skills to delivering floral items from his father's greenhouses to stops in New York City.
A graduate of Fishburne military Academy in Waynesboro VA, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, and served as a navigator. He retired as a Lt. Col. from the Air Force in 1968 and moved to Bradenton. He was also a private pilot.
After moving to Bradenton he became an avid sailor and a Bradenton Yacht Club member.
In September 1949, he married Jean Duncan Russell, who predeceased him in January, 2007. He is survived by several Kerpen and Russell nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial gathering at 3:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 12 at Freedom Village.
Mrs. Jewel Hilburn Lovelace
Jewel Hilburn Lovelace, wife of Robert Laurence Lovelace, died at her residence in Westminster Towers and Shores in Bradenton on July 27, 2014.
Mrs. Lovelace was born
in St. Cloud, FL, the daughter of the late Deacon and Mrs. Otto Frank Hilburn. At the age of two, she, with her family moved to Plant City, FL where she made her home until she retired with her husband and moved to Bradenton, FL.
Mrs. Lovelace was educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County, graduated from Coker College in South Carolina, and she obtained her Master’s Degree from Peabody in Nashville, TN. As an educator, she taught in the classroom for fifteen years and served as a Guidance Counselor for seventeen years.
Mrs. Lovelace was always active in whatever church she attended, she enjoyed participating in the many church activities and served on numerous committees. Two of her chief joys in life were delivering flowers to the elderly and the sick and teaching Sunday School in the Children’s Department, both of which she did for many years in the First Baptist Church of Plant City and later in the First Baptist Church of Sarasota. Mrs. Lovelace was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bradenton at the time of her death.
Mrs. Lovelace was preceded in death by her twin brother G. Alan Hilburn, his wife Patsy and their elder son Alan. Mrs. Lovelace’s only sister Mrs. Betty Kay Hilburn Wright also died several years ago. Mrs. Wright’s husband (Ross Leland Wright, Jr.) survives.
Mrs. Lovelace is survived by her husband, Robert Lovelace, five nieces, Judge Gwyn Hilburn (James Holte), Katherine Hilburn (Martin Misner) Nancy Hilburn (Robert Trenkle), Sharyn Wright Merrill Salter (James Webb), Nancy Wright Diaz (Robert Murchie), three nephews, Frank Mitchell Hilburn, William Harry Lovelace, Jr. (Helen Byholt Lovelace) William Frederick Gutwein, III ( Mary Reichart Gutwein) and by numerous great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Plant City, FL.
The family request that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be made to the Building Fund at the Trinity Baptist Church, 702 Del Webb Blvd. West, Sun City Center, FL. 33573 in her memory.
