Category: Obituaries

Vivian L. Carroll, 95, passed away on March 6, 2023. Mrs. Carroll was born in Lakeland, Florida on January 27, 1928. She was a longtime member of the Carpenter’s Home Church where she was part of the choir, and later, Ignited Church. Mrs. Carroll worked for the Publix bakery and was an avid reader in her spare time.

Jeremiah Santiago passed away on March 4, 2023, in Sarasota Florida. Jeremiah was born in Boynton Beach, Florida to Jorge and Margarita Santiago. He enjoyed playing baseball, fishing, walking, riding bikes, cooking, learning about nature, caring for farm animals, and playing with his nephews.

Birda Nell Winter, 89, passed away at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, Tennessee on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Anthony Philip (Tony) Patrinostro, 72, died on March 2, 2023, due to natural causes. The son of Philip Anthony and Dolly Andina Patrinostro, Tony was born September 30, 1950, at the Dr. A.A. Gonzalez Clinic in Ybor City, FL, initially built by Vicente Martinez Ybor as the Ybor City Land and Improvement Company, later known as the ‘haunted’ Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn.

Marilyn Sager, born and raised in Galeton, Pennsylvania, and a longtime resident of Stuart, Florida, went to be with our Lord on March 5th, 2023. She most recently resided in Lakeland, Florida. Marilyn graduated from Lock Haven University in 1968. A devout Catholic, Marilyn was a woman of great faith who worked as an elementary school teacher for more than three decades. Most notably, she taught for 31 years at St. Joseph Catholic School. She will be remembered as a loving wife, caring mother, and grandmother, and as a kind and wonderful teacher and role model to countless children.

Stephen Alton Schmidt passed away March 4, 2023, with his wife of 40 years and two children by his side. He was 66 years old. A newspaperman to his final days, much of what appears below was written by him.

Ruth Delores Jackson Brotherson Taunton, 94, of Lakeland, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Lakeland Hospice House. She was born on February 26, 1929 in Miami, FL, to Lucian Purdom Jackson and Marvell Alma (Harris) Jackson. In high school, she was a majorette for the Greater Miami Boys Drum and Bugle Corps, where she met drummer Thomas Earl “Tom” Taunton. On February 2, 1951, Ruth and Tom were married in Miami. Ruth and Tom had one son and two daughters in Miami, and in 1967 the family moved to Sarasota, FL.

Raymond W. Perica, 85, of Lakeland died on March 2, 2023. Born August 27, 1937, in Alton, IL to a boisterous, fun-loving Serbo-Croatian family, which included his parents Pete Sr. and Mary Perica, siblings, Mildred, Pete Jr, Paul & Ken. This tight-knit upbringing instilled in Ray the importance of family, community, and service; principles which guided him throughout his life.

Frances Irene Roddy, 74, passed away at her home in Lakeland on Saturday, February 25, 2023. 
She was born in Highland Park, Michigan to parents Victor and Dorothy (Morse) Bond on October 24, 1948. She graduated from Berkley High School in Michigan and married Gerald L. Roddy, Jr. on June 20, 1970. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Arthur Lee Marshall, 85, passed away on February 21, 2023. 
He was born in Yuma, CO to Loyd and Maria Marshall on July 6, 1937. Arthur attended school in Yuma, and later lived in Texas, before moving to Lakeland, Florida 7 years ago. He met his true love, Elsie, in 1955, and they married on April 24, 1956. Their love for each other never wavered until their passing.