Stephanie L. Whitaker

WHITAKER, STEPHANIE L., 38, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 9, 2006 after a long illness with her loving parents at her side. She is survived by her mother and father, Ken and Barbara Whitaker of Winter Garden, her brother, Todd Whitaker of Riverview, FL and her faithful cat, Sara. She is also survived by her grandparents, Amos (91) and Mildred (89) Whitaker of Orange, MA and several uncles, aunts and cousins. She was born in Hartford, CT on September 22, 1967. After moving to Orlando in 1978, she graduated with honors from Boone High School in June, 1985. Stephanie continued her studies at the University of Florida where she received a BS degree in Nursing in May, 1989 and became a Registered Nurse. During her four years at UF, her love was singing with the Maranatha Choir, a music ministry at the University United Methodist Church and Student Center. The highlight of this time was performing with the choir in St. Louis, MO at the United Methodist Church World Congress. Stephanie continued her education and earned a Masters of Science Degree as a Nurse Practitioner with the OF program in Orlando. Then she further advanced her career and became a Certified Diabetes Educator. Stephanie's true love in the nursing field was Home Health Care. She worked in this area for many years and was a very caring professional. While treating her patients, she also took time to educate them and their caregivers in Diabetes fundamentals. She belonged to several professional organizations and published articles in medical journals. She was pro-active in her own treatment by extensively researching all related data on ovarian cancer and attending several national conferences to further obtain treatment expertise. She conferred with her doctor, Hannah Ortiz on these findings and together they planned her treatment. Stephanie was a member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, was an avid reader and loved to do counted cross stitch for herself and her friends. Her friends were numerous locally and across the country and were her support group with her parents. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 4:30PM at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 4851 South Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL, officiated by Rev. Beth Farabee. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church Rotunda. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Stephanie L. Whitaker Memorial Fund at St. Luke's United Methodist Church or the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, 910 17th Street, NW, Suite 413, Washington, DC 20006. Arrangements by Dove Funeral Home, 4310 Curry Ford Rd., Orlando, 407-851-1983.