In Passing – November 2024

Joyce Carol (Otis) Benson

Joyce Carol Benson passed away Oct. 25, 2023, at the age of 80. She lived the majority of her life in Washington state, then resided in Sun Lakes since 2019.

She was loved and appreciated by all who shared life with her. She was a florist by trade and found joy in maintaining her gardens wherever she lived.

Joyce left behind her beloved husband, Ron, with whom she shared 60 years of love, adventure, and marriage; son Michael (Kelli); and daughter Kristin. She had four grandchildren, Alexander, Paige, Maleah, and William. She had a wealth of friends.

Joyce kept us aware of the beauty of life and loving each other. She is missed dearly.

 

 

 

Susan F. Fossen

Susan (Sue) Fossen passed away peacefully Sept. 23 at the age of 81. She was surrounded by her family at home including several grandchildren. Originally from Minnesota, she and her husband of 59 years along with their three children moved to Arizona in 1984. Until 2015, she and John, her husband, lived in Casa Grande, Ariz. Sue suffered from Alzheimer’s disease during the last four years.

Sue had a love for teaching and taught at both high schools in Casa Grande. As a young high school student, she developed a love for the French language, which propelled her to major in the subject while attending and graduating from Minnesota State University—Moorhead. After arriving in Arizona, she earned a master’s degree from Arizona State University.

Sue especially enjoyed the summer months when she and her husband would return to Detroit Lakes, Minn., to escape from the Arizona temperatures while visiting with old friends and relatives in that area. Summers also gave her an opportunity to visit the “City of Lights” with students, friends, and relatives. She managed to travel to France 16 times, which afforded her numerous occasions to sharpen her French speaking skills. Adieu!

 

LaDonna Bell Hall

LaDonna Bell Hall, aged 88, passed away on Sept. 8, 2024, in Slinger, Wis. Born in August 1936, she was a cherished individual known for her kind and loving nature.

LaDonna leaves behind a living legacy in her family; there was no greater joy in her life than her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Rodd (Anna Mae Grimm) and Todd (Lori); grandchildren, Austin, Colin (Kristen), Brandon (Jessica), Nash (Erin), and Anna; and great-grandchildren, Bennett and Parker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irene and M. Bundy Bell, and her brother, Robert Bell.

LaDonna graduated as valedictorian of her class from Monmouth, Ill., High School in 1954. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics from Iowa State University in 1958. While in college, LaDonna married Rodney E. Hall (divorced 1981) in April 1956. After graduation she resided in Little York, Ill., and raised her family, from 1958 until 1981. LaDonna was known for being a great cook, baker, seamstress, and gardener. Her sons have special memories of the days and hours she would spend, with the help of their Grandma Bell, harvesting, preparing, and freezing sweet corn from the garden. LaDonna moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1981 and worked for the National Pork Producers Council until her retirement in 2001.

After retirement she was able to fulfill her dream of living in a warmer climate when she moved to Sun Lakes, Ariz., where she resided for 14 years. LaDonna was a long-time and active member of the United Methodist Church, worshiping in Monmouth, Des Moines, and Sun Lakes. LaDonna made lifelong friends wherever she studied, worked, played, and worshiped.

She will be remembered as someone who devoted her life to bringing joy to family and friends, and who reveled in the joy they gave her in return.

Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Sterling, Ill. The family will hold a Celebration of Life on a yet to be determined date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in LaDonna’s memory.

 

Margherita (Rita) Louise Speranza

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Margherita (Rita) Louise Speranza, 83, of Sun Lakes, Ariz. Rita passed peacefully on the morning of Sept. 10 at her summer home in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Born on Oct. 23, 1940, in Morristown, N.J., Rita was the beloved daughter of George Vincent Marinaro and Mary Rose Bitondo. She attended Morristown High School and graduated with a Nursing degree from St. Mary’s in Orange, N.J.

Rita devoted over 45 years to her career as an Emergency Room nurse, serving in New York City, Rockland County, N.Y., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Her dedication to nursing, mentoring, and patient care was not just her profession but her passion and purpose.

On Oct. 8, 1966, Rita married Michael Joseph Speranza, and together they raised their two daughters in Scottsdale, Ariz. Rita’s life was richly filled with activities she loved; when she wasn’t with her family, she was playing tennis, reading books, traveling to her vacation home in Mexico, or enjoying bridge games with friends in Tempe and Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Rita was also a proud and devoted grandmother. The joy her grandchildren brought her was immeasurable, and she cherished every moment spent with them. Her love for them was boundless, and their presence in her life was a source of great happiness and pride.

Rita’s generosity and welcoming spirit were hallmarks of her life. She had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel at home, embracing new friends and old with warmth and kindness. Her home was always open, and her selflessness and caring nature touched many lives.

Rita is survived by her husband, Michael Speranza, of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; daughters Michele (Brian) Marsella of Chicago, Ill., and Carole Speranza of Chandler, Ariz.; stepsons Michael (Cathy) Speranza of New Rochelle, N.Y., and Mark (Heidi) Speranza of Scarsdale, N.Y.; stepdaughter Donna (Robert) Kolb of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; sisters Elisa (Gene) McCarthy of Lake Wylie, N.C., and Patricia Mercurio of Morris Plains, N.J.; grandchildren Jacob Brown, Tucker Brown, Mia Marsella, Corey Scheurich, Jamie McDermott, Jillian Speranza, Jordon Speranza, Nicholas Kolb, Alexandra Kolb, and Justine Kolb and many cherished nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends who became family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the Arizona Humane Society.

Warren Wegner

Warren Wegner, 79, passed away on Sept. 9, 2024, at Parkland Memory Care after a long battle with dementia.

Warren was born on Sept. 19, 1944, at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif. He grew up in St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from Berkeley High School, where he participated in football, wrestling, track, and basketball. He attended the University of Missouri on a football scholarship for a year.

In 1967, he enlisted in the Army and proudly served during Vietnam as a member of the 7th Special Forces Airborne Group. He received several medals and commendations.

After Warren had completed his service, he worked in management in the trucking business in Missouri, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Colorado. When he moved to Colorado he changed professions and excelled in selling lumber and building materials for companies in Boulder and Lafayette, for multiple housing projects across the Front Range.

When he retired, he moved to Sun Lakes, Ariz., and continued working in the building materials business for a couple of years. He then began working part time on Patrol for the Cottonwood/Palo Verde Homeowners’ Association. It was a job he enjoyed, getting to meet and help his fellow residents. He also learned to create beautiful stained glass pieces during this time.

Warren was a Hawaiian shirt kind of guy. He loved driving Corvettes, his Harleys, and his friends even more.

Warren is survived by his wife, Nickie, his son David and his wife Liz and their daughter Cora, his sister Jeannette Hovorka, niece Kelly (Tim) O’Connor, mother-in-law Ramona Thaete, brother-in-law Kevin (Chaille) Thaete, and nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

A special thanks to his caregivers and hospice nurses at Parkland Memory Care. A Celebration of Life will be held later this fall. Donations can be made to the Humane Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.