Obituaries

Jan 13, 2021

Raymond J. Stocklin Jr., 51, of Hernando, FL, passed away on January 13, 2021.  He was born on October 6, 1969, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Nancy Herne and the late Raymond Stocklin Sr.

Raymond moved to Citrus County from Philadelphia 28 years ago. He worked as a mechanic and was a member of the Crystal...

Jan 13, 2021

My Momma

My mom, Shirley Louise Wright, 60, of Floral City, FL, was called home on January 13, 2021, after fighting the battle of stage 4 cancer three times over the course of five years.

She was preceded in death, in 2018, by my dad, David Wayne Wright, and she lost a part of herself...

Jan 11, 2021

Gerald Hugh Fitzgerald, 73, of Inverness, Florida peacefully passed away, on Monday, January 11th, 2021 at Vitas Health Care in Lecanto, Florida.

Born on March 6, 1947 in Houston, Texas , to the proud parents of Herman Hugh and Venice Estell (Puckett) Fitzgerald. Gerald was raised in Houston, Texas and lived there until he moved to Inverness,...

Jan 10, 2021

Edward F Stuart Age 80

Ed Stuart, the man, the myth, the legend passed away January 10, 2021 due to complications from COVID.  He was born May 8, 1940 in Brooklyn NY to Charles and Mary (Dieble) Stuart.  He married the love of his life Edna Olsen on March 3, 1962.  He graduated from Brooklyn Automotive and...

Jan 2, 2021

William “Bill” Michael Golden, Sr., age 100, of Hernando, Fla., passed away Jan. 2, 2021, in Lecanto. Bill was born in Burlington, Iowa to Leo E. & Gertrude Golden. He was one of six siblings. He was drafted out of Villanova University and served at the Headquarters of the U.S. Army Ground Forces at the Pentagon during World War...

Dec 31, 2020

Helena Bertagna, 71, of Beverly Hills, FL, passed away on December 28, 2020 in Ocala, FL. She was born in Savannah, GA.  The daughter of Carlton and Katherine Blair.

Helena graduated from Tampa Catholic High School.  Upon moving to Citrus County, she became an active member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Beverly Hills. Helena...

Dec 30, 2020

Ector Toro, 83, of Inverness, passed away on December 30, 2020.  He was born on January 20 , 1937 in New York, NY.

A Graveside Committal Service will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.  Details will be announced.

Dec 30, 2020

On Wednesday, December 30th, 2020, Raymond Smerecki, loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend lost his battle with cancer at the young age of 46.

Ray was born October 26th, 1974 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to Casmire Smerecki and BettyAnn (Del Grosso) Smerecki.  After moving to Citrus County in the mid 1980’s, he attended and graduated...

Dec 20, 2020

Cheryl Roseann Rotton, daughter of David Junior & Jo Ann [Gray] Allen was born on March 28, 1947 in Lafayette, Indiana and died on December 20, 2020 at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness Florida. Survived by son Allen Lee & Michelle [Gnaizda] Rotton and daughter Mischell Loraine Daniels, brothers James Scott & Teresa [Cunningham] Allen and Michael David & Belinda...

Dec 15, 2020

Eleanor Tetlock Lash, 97, of Inverness, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2020 at home surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Lash was born in Taylor, PA, to Charles Tetlock and Josephine Maciejewicz Tetlock on February 4, 1923. After graduating high school, she worked a few years to help support her family after her father’s untimely death when...

Dec 13, 2020

Peggy S. Pilon, of Lecanto, FL, passed away on December 13, 2020.  She was born May 9, 1940, in Lancaster, PA, the daughter of the late Robert Henry Stauffer and the late Sara Kennedy Stauffer of Leola, PA.

Peggy graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School.  She was secretary to the Sales Manager...

Dec 10, 2020

Lorraine K. Reid, 66, of Crystal River, Florida, passed away on December 10, 2020 in Lecanto, Florida.  She was born June 28, 1954 in Camden, New Jersey, the daughter of the late Maxwell and Lydia Reid.

Lorraine worked as a secretary for an electronics company.  She enjoyed working with computers, playing computer games, answering questions on Jeopardy,...

Dec 3, 2020

Gertrude Pomerleau, 77, of Hernando, FL, passed away on December 3, 2020.  She was born on June 25, 1943, in Lewiston, Maine, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude Mead.  She was Catholic by faith.

Survivors include her husband, Conrad Pomerleau of Hernando, FL; son, Brian Pomerleau of Woonsocket, RI; daughters, Debra Griffin of Lewiston, ME, Sandra Hopkins...

Nov 25, 2020

Jack A. Branson Jr., 85, of Citrus Springs, Florida, passed away on November 25, 2020 in Inverness, Florida.  He was born on June 28, 1935 in Clinton, Ohio.  He was a veteran of the US Air Force.

Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness, FL.

Nov 24, 2020

James Riley (Joe) 68, a longtime resident of Hattiesburg Mississippi lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away on November 24, 2020.  He was born on March 31, 1952 in Bossier City, Louisiana the son of James and Reba Riley

Professional career included 20+ years as Chief Financial Officer at William Carey College, he also served...

Nov 20, 2020

Paul Omer Dion, 82, of Crystal River, Florida passed away, surrounded by family and with his beloved Schnauzer, Mandy, by his side, on November 20, 2020 at the home of his sister and niece in Port Orange, Florida.  Paul was born in Albany, New York on October 23, 1938 and moved to Daytona Beach Shores in 1955.  Paul graduated...

Nov 5, 2020

Opal Mae Stowe, 92, of Lecanto, Florida, passed away on  November 5, 2020.  She was born August 7, 1928 in Putman, WV to Lloyd and Bessie Leadmon.

Opal has lived in Citrus County since 2002.  She was a member of the Gulf to Lake Baptist Church in Crystal River and would visit nursing homes with prayer groups.  She...

Nov 3, 2020

James W. Heffner, Jr., 67, of Lecanto, FL passed away on March 2, 2020.  He was born on November 8, 1952 in Mononaghela, PA, son of the late James Sr. and Amy Heffner.  Although James did work off and on as a landscape architect, for years he traveled the United States observing the natural world.  He loved to fish...

Nov 3, 2020

John Mazzone, 84, of Hernando, Florida passed away suddenly and all too soon on August 31, 2020. He was born on June 2, 1936, to Carmella and John Mazzone in Schenectady, New York. John was energetic, lively, and loved a good discussion.  He loved to golf, bowl, and watch spectator sports. He could be found often during his life...

Oct 17, 2020

Ralph A. Mongardi, 97, of Beverly Hills, Florida, passed away on October 17, 2020. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Mr. Mongardi was a veteran of the US Army.