Mary Kathleen Avera
September 11, 1944 — June 22, 2021
Mary Kathleen Avera
passed away peacefully on June 22, 2021. "Kathy" was born on September 11, 1944 in Miami, FL. As a young girl, she moved to Green Cove Springs, FL where she attended Clay High School. While in high school, she met a handsome young man named Waldo who would become her soul mate and the love of her life. They were married in 1962. Kathy and Waldo were an active, loving couple. Together they were members of the Northside Moose Lodge as well as avid campers and members of the River City Ramblers camping club. They danced in a Beach Bop group, rode motorcycles, went boating and fishing, and traveled far and near on family road trips with their three (3) children including trips to all parts of Florida as well as Niagara Falls, Washington DC, New Orleans and Alaska. Kathy played pool and had her own pool queue, loved hummingbirds and enjoyed her weekly lottery tickets. She was a devoted wife and a working mother. She worked in Accounts Receivable at National Merchandise for many years and then went on to work for Interline Brands until she retired in 2007. She spent her retirement doing the things she loved and supporting her children and grandchildren. "Nanny" as she was known by many, loved to host gatherings at her home and she rarely missed hosting a birthday, graduation, or any special occasion. She attended football games, basketball games, volleyball games, and dance recitals. She cooked big meals and welcomed friends and extended family into her home on a regular basis. She shuttled grandchildren around to school, doctor's appointments, and most importantly garage sales. Kathy loved to go "garage saling" on the weekends and she always bought treasures for her family and especially her grandchildren. Her home was well stocked with clothes, books, and toys to make visits to Nanny's house all the more fun. Kathy loved her Catholic faith and enjoyed her time at Mass. She will be missed in the pews at Assumption and in the stands at ACS sporting events. Kathy was preceded in death by her oldest son - sweet baby boy Bryant, parents Virginia and David Lee, brother Fred Lee, and sisters Judy Celaa and Dorothy Dyer. She is survived by her husband of 58 years Waldo Emerson Avera Jr, her children Marlene Avera, Karin Harms (George), Steve Avera (Erin), grandchildren Allison, David, Emerson "Emme", Patton, John Paul, her aunt, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is so greatly missed here on earth that we scarcely know what to do but she is no doubt being welcomed in heaven by her parents, her baby boy, her brother, sisters, beloved dogs Sissy, Dusty, Ralph, and Jackie Fern, too many rescued kitty cats to count, several chickens and a turkey. May they all reunite at the kitchen table for coffee and to discuss the newspaper over pot roast and Neapolitan ice cream with lots of leftovers and stuffed toys for the animals. Forever in our hearts Kathy, Mom, Nanny, with a smile and a hug and a "don't burn the bread!"
passed away peacefully on June 22, 2021. "Kathy" was born on September 11, 1944 in Miami, FL. As a young girl, she moved to Green Cove Springs, FL where she attended Clay High School. While in high school, she met a handsome young man named Waldo who would become her soul mate and the love of her life. They were married in 1962. Kathy and Waldo were an active, loving couple. Together they were members of the Northside Moose Lodge as well as avid campers and members of the River City Ramblers camping club. They danced in a Beach Bop group, rode motorcycles, went boating and fishing, and traveled far and near on family road trips with their three (3) children including trips to all parts of Florida as well as Niagara Falls, Washington DC, New Orleans and Alaska. Kathy played pool and had her own pool queue, loved hummingbirds and enjoyed her weekly lottery tickets. She was a devoted wife and a working mother. She worked in Accounts Receivable at National Merchandise for many years and then went on to work for Interline Brands until she retired in 2007. She spent her retirement doing the things she loved and supporting her children and grandchildren. "Nanny" as she was known by many, loved to host gatherings at her home and she rarely missed hosting a birthday, graduation, or any special occasion. She attended football games, basketball games, volleyball games, and dance recitals. She cooked big meals and welcomed friends and extended family into her home on a regular basis. She shuttled grandchildren around to school, doctor's appointments, and most importantly garage sales. Kathy loved to go "garage saling" on the weekends and she always bought treasures for her family and especially her grandchildren. Her home was well stocked with clothes, books, and toys to make visits to Nanny's house all the more fun. Kathy loved her Catholic faith and enjoyed her time at Mass. She will be missed in the pews at Assumption and in the stands at ACS sporting events. Kathy was preceded in death by her oldest son - sweet baby boy Bryant, parents Virginia and David Lee, brother Fred Lee, and sisters Judy Celaa and Dorothy Dyer. She is survived by her husband of 58 years Waldo Emerson Avera Jr, her children Marlene Avera, Karin Harms (George), Steve Avera (Erin), grandchildren Allison, David, Emerson "Emme", Patton, John Paul, her aunt, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is so greatly missed here on earth that we scarcely know what to do but she is no doubt being welcomed in heaven by her parents, her baby boy, her brother, sisters, beloved dogs Sissy, Dusty, Ralph, and Jackie Fern, too many rescued kitty cats to count, several chickens and a turkey. May they all reunite at the kitchen table for coffee and to discuss the newspaper over pot roast and Neapolitan ice cream with lots of leftovers and stuffed toys for the animals. Forever in our hearts Kathy, Mom, Nanny, with a smile and a hug and a "don't burn the bread!"
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