Mary Louise Guthart, 91, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2018 at the Community Hospice Hadlow Center in Jacksonville, FL.
Mary Lou was born in Buffalo, NY to James and Mathilda Dewey and spent most of her early years in Cincinnati, OH. She married the love of her life, Robert L. Guthart, in 1947. She then moved to Iowa with her husband, and in later years, to Kenosha and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they raised their three children. She was ahead of her time as a strong female leader and working mother. She worked as a nurse and frequently volunteered in various organizations throughout Wisconsin.
In 1977 she and her family made the move to Clearwater, FL, where she enjoyed the Florida sunshine and continued to work as a nurse and volunteer. Her husband, Robert, passed away in 1982. She attempted to retire but found a love for helping the less fortunate at the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen. She became the director of the soup kitchen and worked with many different government and private agencies for the plight of the homeless. After having a stroke in 2010, her family moved her from Clearwater, FL to Jacksonville, FL to be near her son’s family who cared for her lovingly for almost eight years. Her family will be forever grateful to the Community Hospice Hadlow Center for their loving care of our mother in her final days.
She will be remembered for her love of God, the Catholic Church, her devotion to St. Joseph, love for her family, love for chocolate and butter, bridge playing, sense of humor, and kindness to all. She was not solely a person of faith but took action to serve others. She was an avid Green Bay Packer and Florida Gator Football fan, an excellent nurse, and wonderful mother. Her sense of humor and frequent jokes will be sorely missed as well las her excellent cooking and baking.
Mary Lou is proceeded in death by her parents, one sister, as well as her husband. She is survived by one sister, Virginia Johnson of Westchester, OH; her three children: Susan Gelman (Stanley) DeLand,FL , Jayne Birkel (Paul) Pewaukee, WI, Joseph Guthart (Julia) Jacksonville, FL; eight grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, and multiple nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10:30am at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, 2405 Phillipe Parkway, Safety Harbor 34695.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen in Clearwater http://svdpsoupkitchenchapel.com/donate/ or the Community Hospice Center In Jacksonville https://www.communityhospice.com/give Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com
HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5