Local Obituaries




CONLEY, Gerald B., 79, of Gulfport, died Thursday, May 1, 2008. Survived by loving wife and family. Funeral arrangements to follow. ALifeTribute FuneralCare Gulfport Chapel.
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CRUZ, Leonida, 86, of Gulfport, passed away on May 1, 2008. Born in New Bedford, MA and raised in Portugal, she returned to New Bedford as a teenager. She became a seamstress and for most of her adult life worked in the clothing industry in that city. She and her now deceased husband, Joseph, came here 33 years ago in the hope of finding a more relaxed life style. She was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and a long time member of the Portuguese-American Suncoast Association where she and her husband were active in all aspects of the organization’s myriad activities. She is survived by her son Ronald; brothers and sisters; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces
and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 5800 15th Ave. S, St. Petersburg, on Tuesday, May 6, at 11 a.m. Internment will follow at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery 11801 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater. ALifeTribute - Gulfport Chapel.
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D’AMBRA, Jennie “Jean”, 90, of Gulfport, passed away Friday, May 2nd, 2008 in Flat Rock, NC. Born in Italy, she came here in 1962 from Brooklyn, NY. Member Holy Name Catholic Church. Survived by son Santo; grandchildren John & Joann D’Ambra of NC, Jim & Diane Boyle of FL, Vincent & Kim D’Ambra of NJ; and niece Lena & Sam Castel of FL. Visitation Monday 10-11 a.m. at David C. Gross Funeral Home in St. Petersburg. Cryptside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Memorial Park Mausoleum (Southside). David C. Gross Funeral Homes, 6366 Central Ave. 727-381-4911.
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FIERRO, JOSEPHINE, died May 5, 2008 at home under Hospice care. She is survived by her brothers Frank Daniel, Louis and sister Lee Baran. Memorial service for family and friends to be held Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the home of Louis, 6023 Gulfport Blvd., Gulfport, FL.
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 MAC NEILL, WILLIAM, formerly of Gulfport, passesd away at his home in Otto, NC on May 5, 2008. Mr. MacNeill was born in Lynn, MA in 1918. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean conflict. He was a Master Sergeant in communications. Mr. MacNeill was mayor of Gulfport in the 60s. Survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter, Judy, granddaughter, Paige and three great-grandchildren. Private services will be held in Otto.
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MICHEL, Winfred G. “Mike”, 82, of Gulfport, FL, formerly of Oswego, NY and Houston, TX, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 after a brief illness. Born in Bainbridge, NY, Mike retired after 35 years from the railroad. At age 17, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where he served in the Pacific Theater from 1943-46. While serving on the USS Calloway, Mike participated in the campaigns at the Marshall Islands, Philippines, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. After returning to civilian life, Mike met and married his beloved wife, Nancy, and settled in Waterville, NY. In 1959, the couple moved their family to Oswego, NY where he was active in Boy Scouts and his church. In 1980, the family moved to Houston and then to Gulfport in 1994, where he was an active community volunteer and a member of the American Legion Post #125. Surviving him is his wife of 60 years, Nancy (Langone); 6 children, Catherine (Terry) Schwartz of Gulfport, Anthony (Tina) of Septe’me, France; Janet (Kevin) McNamara of St. Petersburg; Patricia (Nat) Michel-Siembor of Oswego, NY; Mary Meeks of Port Richey, FL; Diane (Stephen) Hallmark of Houston, TX ; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. A Mass of the Resurrection was held at Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Gulfport Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. with interment at Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell on May 6. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast or the American Cancer Society. ALife Tribute - Gulfport.
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WINFRED, Michel “Mike”, 82, of Gulfport, died April 29. Visitation Friday at ALife Tribute-Gulfport,
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral Mass Monday at Holy Name at 11 a.m. ALifeTribute FuneralCare.
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