Shirley Van Ostenbridge-Esposito
Shirley Van Ostenbridge-Esposito, 71, of Parrish and formerly of Anna Maria Island, died Sept. 23.
She was born Oct. 27, 1949, in Paterson, New Jersey, and her family moved to Anna Maria Island in 1957.
She was crowned “Teen Queen” at age 15 at the island youth
center. She loved growing up on the island and remained close with her island.
She and her late husband, George Esposito, owned and operated the popular Marios restaurant for many years on 14th Street in Bradenton. After the restaurant sold, she found a passion for teaching at Oneco Elementary School.
Two years after she was widowed, she was blessed with the love of her life, Bob Opdyke. They started a bucket list in 2016 after she received a cancer diagnosis and twice traveled cross-country in their tiny home, visiting national parks and family. They also spent time at her “happy place,” her cabin in North Carolina.
A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
Mrs. Esposito is survived by Robert Opdyke Sr.; daughter Dawn M. Brown; brother Ronald and his wife, sister-in-love Jackie Van Ostenbridge; two nieces, her “bonus” daughters, Stacie and Liz and husband Josh; “bonus” son Robert and wife Tia; seven “bonus” grandchildren; and many surrogate nieces, nephews and grandchildren.