Betty Ann Oldanie

Betty Oldanie, 84, of Seminole, passed away from complications related to Alzheimer’s on October 31, 2026, while under the compassionate care of Suncoast Hospice Care Center Mid-Pinellas, which she helped open during her 25-year career with Suncoast Hospice.

Betty is survived by her husband of 58 years, Charles William Oldanie; her brother, Robert Lifsey of Osprey, FL; half-sister, Bonita Uthus of Annapolis, MD; two daughters, Laura Oldanie of Gulfport, FL, Stacy Stiber (Steve), of Woodstock, GA; grandchildren are Avery (Colby) Cox, Casen Stiber & Reagan Stiber. Betty is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty was born in Flint, MI, the daughter of William and Marjorie, Lifsey on January 15, 1942. She and her brothers (Bill & Bob Lifsey) grew up in Flushing, MI surrounded by a large extended and loving family that shared many special occasions, love and laughter. Betty was a friend to all and won homecoming queen of Flushing High School by a landslide.

Her mother was a nurse and her beloved step-father, Clyde, was a fireman and they raised she and her siblings to have hearts for service.

After high school, Betty completed nursing school at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI where she was named Student Nurse of the year in 1963 and knew she had found her calling. She then went on to get a BSN from Michigan State University. Betty went on to get an MS in human services at the University of Detroit. Her nursing career led her to a variety of settings from hospitals to camps, to nursing homes to schools, but she contributed the last 25 years of her career to the mission of Suncoast Hospice and retired as their acting President & CEO on her birthday in 2015. In her various leadership roles at Suncoast Hospice, Betty was respected for her passion and commitment to ensuring excellence in end of life care for their patients. In fact, she literally wrote the book on it, when she co-authored “A Caring Sanctuary” with Dr. Mary Jean Etten outlining Suncoast Hospice’s 40-year history of caring. Betty’s spearheaded the joint commission certification which only a few hospices in the country had achieved. She co-lead the team responsible for developing Suncoast’s proprietary software. Betty had extensive involvement in influencing public policy and regularly met with key legislators on hospice and home health issues.

Betty had the opportunity and the willingness to touch many lives in a positive way, and she was always up for the task. Many people were the recipient of her kind and unselfish gestures. In retirement, Betty followed her love for children and was a Guardian Ad Litem for many years. Betty and Chuck also spent countless hours volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Friendship Force, the crowning achievement of which was the collaborative effort with both organizations where Betty played a huge role in spearheading the fundraising of nearly $70K to complete the build of a fourplex they had helped build in Romania. They also participated in many projects through their church community, Anona United Methodist Church, who honored Betty with a Lifetime Service Award in 2020 in appreciation for her service to grief education and counseling.

Betty will be remembered for her kindness, compassion, wisdom, commitment to excellence, hard work, gentle spirit, beautiful smile and joyful heart.

A celebration of life will be held at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, FL on November 14, 2026 at 11am with reception immediately following.

The family request that in lieu of flowers those who wish may make a contribution to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation at (727) 523-2441 or email [email protected] https://suncoasthospicefoundation.org/donations2/