Gearhardt, Cecelia Elizabeth "Ceil"

Vero Beach, FL

Family and friends mourn the loss of Ceil who left this world too soon on May 20 ^th at the age of 77.

Born in Passaic, NJ on Friday, March 13, 1942 to Joseph Modrovskey and Cecelia Michaud.  Ceil, affectionately known as "Peanut", was raised in nearby Clifton.  In 1975, Ceil made Vero Beach her permanent home.

Ceil had an effervescent personality, a generous heart and a passion for life.  She worked her way through school while raising her son, earning both her Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees.  Ceil retired from a rewarding career at Indian River State College and didn't miss a beat.  Ceil enjoyed traveling, appreciated a good game of pinochle and loved spending time with family and friends. A true believer in giving back, she mentored high school students in her spare time.  A long-time member of the Treasure Coast art community, Ceil was a prolific painter and photographer whose work will always be the testament to her fun-loving and independent spirit.

Ceil cherished family and leaves behind her mother Cecelia, two sisters JoAnn (Lige) and Joan (Floyd), son Joel, daughter-in-law Cynthia "Cyndi", two grandchildren Sean and Lauren, many nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends, as well as her beloved cat Sashay.  Yes, Ceil really had a cat---we still don't believe it either! Ceil was predeceased by her father and brother Jean.

Ceil had a smile that could light up a room and brighten your day. We will forever hold her in our hearts.

No service will be held per Ceil's wishes.  Please celebrate her life in your own way.  The family requests no flowers be sent.  Her sentiments were "If you wanted to send me flowers, then you should've sent them to me while I was alive!"

Ceil's own words are below:

Ceil's Own Words

[We believe written after her diagnoses, therefore gently edited for clarity.]:

Cecelia Peanut Modrovskey etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.

[a nod to her ex-husbands, LOL]

I arrived on March 13, 1942.  Thirty years later, Joel Peter my son, was born on 5/12/1975.  He filled the sunshine and love in my life.  My heart has been smiling ever since and has been filled with laughs, love, + hugs.

Special blessings hidden in my heart are daughter in law, Cyndi "we made it" [referring to the balance achieved between the two] [and] Jo-Ann and Joan, my two younger sisters.  Nieces Letizia, Rosie, + Cookie.  Nephews Lige (Dodo), Jake, Junior + Wayne.  Greats---Sy, Christian, Twinkle [Ahleah] and Shelby.  Do you believe more blessings! Two fantastic grandchildren Sean and Lauren.  They are part of my disapline [?] era [?] filled up with more love, many smiles, laughs, trips, and all hugs!

Along came IRCC (IRSC presently).  Yes, another blessing.  Dr. Dr. Herman Heise, president at the time, accepted me as a new employee three times. After my third acceptance, I gave up traveling around and settled in at a desk and started to raise my son, Joel. Now blessed with a second family, Dr. Edwin Massey became president after Dr. Heise retired.  Believe this, another blessing.  I became part of Dr. Massey's team extending IRCC extending IRCC to IRSC. This was my 2 ^nd family. This family guided my son Joel on the road to education!  Joel graduated his senior year of high school at IRCC.  This was his home & favorite college.  However, he had to move on and completed his bachelor's degree at FAU and masters at FSU.

Included in this package at IRCC (IRSC), I too was blessed with friends. I participated in the hire of Kathie Walters and a forty some year friendship!  I wish I could name everyone who is part of my happiness; however, we still carry all those laughs, tears, and hugs with us always!  The most important thing, we staff, housekeeping, professors, family, titles [?] were good love was better or [at] working together. Take one day at a time and don't "worry" about tomorrow, in some cases you may plaes [pass] it by!  Smile, I leave with wonderful, loving, laughing memories.

My physical world was important + blessed in the life of children, friends, family, fun, laughs, love, + lots of hugs.

Now I am blessed for the final call, my spirit.