Anita Kroll

Anita Faith Kroll, 79, passed away on May 1, 2020 at her home in St. Petersburg surrounded by loving family. Born in 1941 in Lancaster, Ohio to Richard and Beatrice Marshall, Anita graduated from Lancaster High School in 1959 and from nursing school in Akron, Ohio in 1962. After working at Veterans Administration hospitals in Ohio, California and Florida she married Patrick Kroll in 1967, and their daughter Tracie was born in 1970. Anita also followed in her father’s footsteps during a brief but greatly-enjoyed career as a real estate agent. Following assignments in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Battle Creek, Michigan, Anita and family made their home in her beloved Florida in 1984, where she worked as a home healthcare nurse until retirement. Once she settled near the Gulf Coast, she was seldom seen again north of latitude 33 (shared by Savannah, one of her favorite destinations, and San Diego, her daughter’s longtime home). Preceded in death by Patrick and sister Judith Humes, she is survived by daughter Tracie; granddaughter Molly; sister Dawn Marshall and Rick Marshall, both of Columbus, Ohio. Anita’s core values of friendship, service, freedom and independence were eclipsed only by her faith in God. All who knew her, casual and lifelong friends alike, were touched by the way that she lived her faith. Her middle name was no accident, and it served as her touchstone throughout a long life filled with joys and challenges. She shared unconditional love with everyone she met and was always ready to lend a hand to those in need. She had circles of friends from the churches she attended over the years – Suncoast Cathedral, Liberty Baptist Church, and Community Bible Baptist Church – and she always looked forward to meeting her beloved Coffee Club girlfriends at Panera. Anita was passionate about health and was physically active her whole life. Her first love was tennis – she taught her daughter to play by hitting balls against a warehouse wall near their home in Battle Creek. Eventually she transitioned to swimming, pickleball and Silver Sneakers fitness classes. She could be seen taking daily walks around her complex until shortly before her passing. Anita’s love of art and flowers (especially roses, sunflowers, and azaleas) reflected her own inner and outer beauty. She will be deeply and profoundly missed by all who survive her. A light in this world has gone out, but she would want us to keep on singing because her ashes will rest with her parents and her soul is with God now. A celebration of her life will take place on Zoom at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Suncoast Hospice. To Keep the Memory of Charlotte Forten Grimké By Angelina Weld Grimké Still are there wonders of the dark and day: The muted shrilling of shy things at night, So small beneath the stars and moon; The peace, dream-frail, but perfect while the light Lies softly on the leaves at noon. These are, and these will be Until eternity; But she who loved them well has gone away. Each dawn, while yet the east is veiléd grey, The birds about her window wake and sing; And far away, each day, some lark I know is singing where the grasses swing; Some robin calls and calls at dark. These are, and these will be Until eternity; But she who loved them well has gone away. The wild flowers that she loved down green ways stray; Her roses lift their wistful buds at dawn, But not for eyes that loved them best; Only her little pansies are all gone, Some lying softly on her breast. And flowers will bud and be Until eternity; But she who loved them well has gone away. Where has she gone? And who is there to say? But this we know: her gentle spirit moves And is where beauty never wanes, Perchance by other streams, mid other groves; And to us there, ah! she remains A lovely memory Until eternity; She came, she loved, and then she went away. A celebration of her life will take place on Sunday, June 28,2020 at 1:00 PM at Community Bible Baptist Church (6565 78th Avenue North, Pinellas Park, Florida). The ceremony will also be live streamed on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Suncoast Hospice.