Violet L Sutherland

Violet Lou Sutherland was born December 2nd, 1926, in Burgettstown, PA, and departed this world to sleep with the angels on December 10th, 2022, in Seminole, FL. Violet worked as a cadet nurse during World War II and became a registered nurse in 1948. After living in Northbrook, Illinois, a borough of Chicago, she moved to Florida in 1962. For over 25 years, she worked at the Bay Pines VA Hospital eventually becoming head nurse, dedicating her entire career to serving our veterans. She volunteered actively for the Republican National Committee and was baptized Catholic, finding solace in her faith community. Violet was exceptionally generous and cared deeply for her family and friends. After retiring, Violet enjoyed travelling with her family to North Carolina and Sanibel Island frequently for family reunions and enjoyed taking cruises across the Caribbean and to Mexico. She always loved the ocean and had a timeshare at the Breckenridge at the Tradewinds so she could be closer to the waves. Always a nurse, she took care of her mother, Della Boles, until her passing in 2004 at 94. With a strong sense of fashion, Violet enjoyed dressing up in the latest Chicos or Joan Rivers outfits, and never left the house without her makeup, hair, and nails done. She also loved dancing with her grandson to Frank Sinatra and other big band music. She loved animals deeply and once had a poodle named Gigi (whose nails she also painted, and who was never seen without a bandana). Always an icon, Violet drove a stylish 1975 Mercury Cougar that she had hand washed once a week and was fiercely independent until her final years.

She is preceded in death by her parents Russell and Della Boles and two of her five sisters Sandy van Oosterhout and Dolores Copenhaver, and is survived by her sisters Diane Dohms of Palm Harbor, FL, and Janet Brown of McDonald, PA. She is also preceded in death by her beloved daughter Laura Lee Sutherland of Alachua, FL, and is survived by her loving son Randall Sutherland, daughter-in-law Joyce Sutherland and her grandson Ryan Sutherland of St. Petersburg, FL. Violet passed away peacefully at Mid-Pinellas Hospice in Pinellas Park, FL, and was exceptionally grateful for the care Hospice staff took of her in her final days. Her life will be celebrated at a private family service at Garden Sanctuary in Seminole, FL, on December 29th. She will be greatly missed.