Penelope Heather Parkinson

Penelope “Penny” Heather Parkinson, 55, of Lake Mary, Florida, passed away May 4th, 2025. Born in Skokie, Illinois, Penny later made her home in Central Florida where she graduated from Lake Brantley High School and attended Seminole State College.

Though she held a variety of fun and memorable jobs in her younger years, Penny’s greatest joy and most treasured role was being a devoted stay-at-home mom to her beloved children, Summer and Sterling. Her love for them shaped every part of her life and raising them was her proudest accomplishment.

As a child, Penny loved spending time on the water with her family, especially boating and slalom skiing — a skill she picked up easily and always enjoyed. She had a naturally adventurous spirit and loved going “bumming,”— taking long, winding drives with no destination in mind, often stopping at her favorite restaurant, Harry’s. She cherished simple moments, like trips to the zoo with her daughter Summer and quiet afternoons loving on her Yorkies, who brought her so much joy. Penny had a deep love for the mountains, particularly on the rare occasions she got to experience snow.

In her recent years, Penny found peace and freedom riding her electric bike — a love she shared with her dad. The long rides gave her a quiet space to think and simply enjoy the moment — no noise, no distractions, just time for herself.

Penny was a Christian whose love and faith in Jesus Christ was a quiet but steady part of who she was.

She is survived by her loving family: Daughter, Summer Wood; Son, Sterling Wood; Husband, Clifton Parkinson; her Mother, Peggy Garner; Father, Richard Rodiek; and her two sisters, Jennifer LeClair and Gail Norkus.

A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 12th at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 994 E Altamonte Dr. The family will receive guests for a viewing from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, with a service to honor Penny’s life to follow from 2:00 to 3:00 PM.

In the words of John Steinbeck:

“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Central Florida Zoo, a place Penny and her daughter cherished and visited often. https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/get-involved/donate/