Lois Bowers Debona
Lois Bowers Debona, 79, of Bradenton, died March 30.
She was born July 30, 1942, in Philadelphia to Irene and Samuel Riddell and spent her youth in Upper Darby and Havertown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Havertown Senior High School in 1960.
Lois and her four boys moved to her beloved Anna Maria Island in 1977. She volunteered on the board at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
She was a legal secretary for many years for the law firm of Dye, Deitrich and Petruff in Bradenton.
She will be missed dearly.
A private celebration of life is planned for June 5.
Mrs. DeBona is survived by her husband, James, his children and grandchildren; sisters Judith ODonnell of Amelia Island and Susan Curtin of Roswell, Georgia; sons Cole and wife Michelle, Mark and wife Rochelle, Kenny and wife Bonnie and Matt and wife Chrissy; and grandchildren Jordan, Grace, Lane, Brennan, Lilah and Samuel.
Sara Baldwin Falk
Sara Baldwin Falk (nee Fischl) of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and Holmes Beach, died April 29. She was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, April 11, 1935, to Paul A. Fischl and Ruth (Smith).
She graduated from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, attended Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin. Her favorite times were with her children and grandchildren, sailing, golfing, bowling, reading — often several books a week — and traveling the world with family members.
She loved to play cards and laugh. Sara was a fierce advocate of women’s rights, giving her time and money to women’s causes.
She helped her late husband found the family business, Minco, and supported it throughout her lifetime. She was not only a mother, but a dear friend, adviser and confidant to her children and family.
She lived her life in an independent and self-reliant manner, and was an intelligent, dignified and self-determined woman. She is and will be so missed.
The family plans to hold a service July 15 in Manitowoc. Memorial donations may be made to the Door County Humane Society.
Mrs. Falk is survived by her children, Elisabeth Ruth of Denver, Melanie Arden of Snowmass Village, Colorado, and Richard Joel and wife Erin of Lighthouse Point, Florida; grandchildren Nicole and husband Andrew Schonlau, Kiefer, Michael, Sara Falk-Mann, Maura and husband Maxim Marling, Julia Falk-Mann, Rachel, Meredith Webster and husband Jorge Miguel, Emily and husband Mustafa Bagdatli, and Chip Webster and wife Ami Schmidgall; brother Paul A. Fischl Jr; and great-grandchildren Christopher, Aiyla, Bedri and Demi.
Gay Gutierrez Thomas
Gay Gutierrez Thomas, 86, of Holmes Beach, died May 4.
She was born in Tampa May 9, 1935. She married Tommie Thomas and had two children. Her family has been residents of Holmes Beach since 1945.
She had a passion for other people’s happiness and was always generous with her actions and kindness.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 16, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach.
For more information and to leave an online condolence, please visit DeGusipefuneralhome.com.
Mrs. Gutierrez is survived by her daughter, Cindy Griffin; son-in-law, Greg Griffin; grandchildren Allen, Jim and Christina; and brother Bob of Holmes Beach.
Judy May Allen
Judy May Allen, 78, died April 18. She was born in Cardiff, Wales, June 11, 1943.
She attended finishing school in Germany, leaving just two days before war began.
Her father was an RAF wing commander, and the family lived in India for a time. She traveled on the Queen Elizabeth to America alone at age 16 to join her family at an airbase in Ohio.
At 17, she attended Miami University of Ohio. She married Al Allen and they settled in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She earned her master’s from Wayne State while rearing two children and became a biology and chemistry teacher.
They traveled to the United Kingdom, Bahamas and Anna Maria Island. She eventually stopped teaching and started a travel agency. She also managed a recording studio for the blind and a hotel in the Bahamas before settling in her father’s condo on Anna Maria Island.
She volunteered 20 years at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, wrote four books about her family, adventures and travels, knitted sweaters, volunteered at Tingley Library in Bradenton Beach and enjoyed theater, classical music, movies, books, puzzles and the Sunday New York Times Crossword.
The family is hosting an informal celebration of life at her home noon-3 p.m. Sunday, May 22. Memorial donations may be made to Mote Marine Laboratory.
She is survived by son Mark and daughter Wendy Allen Kettler; grandkids Piper, Teagan, McKenna, Stuart, Nathan and Jacob; brother Jonathan May; nieces Laurel May Ledoux and Adrienne May; and many of her UK family.