Claire TYTUS

TYTUS, Claire

100, of St Petersburg, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. Born in Jersey City, NJ, she lost her mother when she was five. She went to work at 14 at American Can Company. Her father passed away at the height of the depression when she was a teenager. She and her husband raised their family in Norfolk, VA where she was a member of Holy Trinity Church for over 50 years; both worked hard to insure that their children were well provided for and had access to an excellent education. When her children were old enough to take care of themselves, she worked at the NAS Navy Exchange. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Laddy and Stanley Goscienski; her brother, Matthew; her sisters, Genevieve Wycienski, Gertrude LaFianza, and Stella Wenger; and the love of her life, her husband, Michael Tytus. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Ann Tytus Terwilliger; her grandchildren, Misa Ann Everist and Thomas Michael Terwilliger; her great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Claire and Madelyn Ann Everist; her son, Robert Michael Tytus and his wife Cathy; Robert Tytus's stepchildren, Tracy Marshall, Joshua Yunker, and Laura Harding and their children, Charlie, Kasey, Nathan, McKenna, Makala, and Anna Brooke; her nieces and nephews, Mark Campbell and Pam Gennerelli, Angela Jobe, John Joseph, Ronald and Paul LaFianza and their children and grandchildren, Lisa and Dana, Alyson and Megan, Zoe and Sophia, Jonathan and Ronald Jr., Madelyn, Jake, Benjamin, Emma, Kayla, and James. She was grateful to all of her neighbors in Norfolk who helped her as she grew old, and all who took care of her in the last years of her life especially her granddaughter, Misa Everist; her caregivers, Priscilla Lavine, Mary Anne Buganski, and Levivian and Teresa Patterson; and the staff at Menorah Manor, especially Ellen Clayton, Mary Jo Hanna, Maria Milligan, Cassandra Mixon, and her ever faithful Hospice nurse, Nancy Mumford. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, neighbor, friend, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandma. She faithfully said her rosary every day, but she had an irreverent sense of humor and said exactly what was on her mind. She was a hard task master and tough critic who always worked harder than anyone else; her house was always clean; the meals she cooked were excellent; she was a baker and the only person we knew who could pack 1000 calories into a square inch of pastry heaven. Guests were always welcomed to sit at her table. She remained close to her daughter's friends and continued to refer to them as "you college girls" until they were well into their 60's. Her visits with her son and his family always included Eastern Shore she-crab soup made with lots of fresh crab meat, heavy cream and butter. We treasure the good memories and her extraordinarily strong and resilient character. Our lives depended on her presence, and we will all miss her very much. A funeral mass will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Friday, Sept. 18, at 10 am. She will be buried with her husband in Arlington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Menorah Manor Foundation. Online memorial and guestbook at: www.brettfuneralhome.net