Lucette Gerry
Lucette Gerry, 79, of Anna Maria, died April 12.
She was born in 1938 in Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka, Quebec, and was one of 10 children of Marie-Ange Legroulx and Orphe Viau.
She met her husband, Kenneth Gerry, in Puerto Rico and they married in Honolulu. They had two sons and were married for 37 year before Mr. Gerry died in 1997.
Mrs. Gerry worked at the phone company for years. She moved to Anna Maria Island in 1974 and became a U.S. citizen in 1977.
She was an accomplished businesswoman and owner of the White Sands Beach Resort and Tropical Breeze Beach Club for more than 30 years, all while raising two kids and volunteering at Anna Maria Elementary School.
Upon retirement, she finally had time to do her true calling and began volunteering with local churches. She helped at St. Bernard Catholic Church, did street and prison ministry with Christian Retreat, was part of the Sacred Heart Charismatic and a prayer group, helped to teach English to migrant workers and people new to our country with Sister Nora at Project Light in Bradenton, along with may other groups.
Memorial donations may be made to roskampinstitute.org, a nonprofit that does treatment and research for dementia.
She is survived by her sons Ken and wife Kathy and Jeff and wife Joy; grandsons Kristopher and Kevin; sisters Pierrette Viau, Yvette Viau and Claudette Viau; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 26, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach.
Valerie Jean Matice
Valerie Jean Matice died April 12 in Bradenton.
She was born in St. Johns, Michigan, Feb. 14, 1949, to Lad and Jean Bartholomew.
She was a mother, Cub Scout leader, soccer coach, mentor, wise old soul, straight shooter and a friend. She was a strong independent woman who lived life by her rules.
One of her greatest passions was being an advocate —in the women’s rights movement in the 1970s and working on elderly issues in Manatee County in the 2010s.
For close to 40 years she was someone who provided support, advice and shelter to people in their time of need on Anna Maria Island, where she lived for many years. Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren and the island.
The family will hold a celebration of life this summer.
In her honor, her wish was for people to slow down, get on “island time” and appreciate time with family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
She is survived by her son Joshua’s children Canaan and Quentin; son Zachary and wife Jennie Makanoff and their children Noah and Ashlee; daughter Betsy Oliver McMullin and husband Kenneth and their daughter Jenna; son Robert and wife Alyson Robbins and their children Elle, Jaye and Wesley; and brother Kenneth Bartholomew.
Alan A. ‘Al Tate’ Palella
Alan A. “Al Tate” Palella, 79, of Anna Maria, died April 15.
He was born in Loraine, Ohio, and moved to Tampa as a child. He moved to Anna Maria Island in 1973.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and former co-owner of Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria.
A celebration of Life will be 4-7 p.m., Saturday, May 5, at Bortell’s Lounge, 10002 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made to brownandsonsfuneral.com.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Marie.