Norma Jean Persing, known as Jean, 87, of Lecanto, FL, passed away on Sun., Aug. 8, 2021 at Rosecastle of Citrus in Lecanto, FL. A native of Sharon, PA, she was born May 4, 1934 to Carl and Louella (VanHorn) Diefenderfer. A lifelong homemaker, Jean was also a retired production employee for Hershey’s Corp., Hershey, PA in their Reese’s Division. She moved to Lecanto in 1994 from Palmyra, PA with her late husband of 54 years, Samuel H. Persing, who passed away on July 16, 2005. Jean loved taking care of her family, baking cookies, sewing, bowling and recently jigsaw puzzles. Her perfect day may have also included going out to lunch and going to the hairdresser. She attended Grace Bible Church in Homosassa for over 25 years. In addition to her husband Sam and her parents, was preceded in death by three sisters; Harriet Kelly, Mary Ann Worley and Pauline Fabich and other sibling Carl Diefenderfer, Jr. Jean is survived by her children David Persing (wife Nancy), Mechanicsburg, PA; Sharon Stapley (husband Steven), Lecanto, FL; William Persing, Lancaster, PA; Douglas Persing (girlfriend Sherry), Homosassa, FL; other siblings Trudy Anderson, Fort Meade, FL; Jim Diefenderfer, Lutz, FL and Sally Diefenderfer, Cumming, GA; grandchildren Paul Stapley (Valerie), Alaska; Sarah Stapley, Lecanto, FL; Rebecca Hopkins (husband Tom), Dayton, OH and Phillip Persing, Mechanicsburg, PA and eight great grandchildren. Friends will be received on Wed., Aug. 18, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM at Grace Bible Church, 6382 W. Green Acres St., Homosassa, FL 34446, where a funeral service of remembrance will take place at 10:45 A.M. with Rev. Harold Summers officiating. Interment will follow at 2:00 P.M. at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL with Pastor Ray Herriman officiating. In lieu of flowers, Jean’s family suggests making memorial contributions in her name to either Friends of Israel or Vitas Healthcare, Lecanto, FL. Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa, FL. www.wilderfuneral.com
