Luella Welch "Lou" Klimczak

Lou Klimczak, age 89 of St Petersburg, Florida died at her beloved home under Hospice care on December 28th, 2020. She was born in Bridgewater, New York, having moved to St Petersburg in 1959 from Utica New York. She worked as a legal secretary in New York for 10 years before moving to Florida. She took a hiatus from work to become a housewife and mother to her daughter Tracy. Once her daughter was a teenager she went back to school to earn her Medical Assistance certificate, doing so with straight A’s earning a near perfect score. She then worked for Drs. Bell and Bell Ophthalmologists and was their office manager for 14 years. She was a retired member of the American Medical Registry of Medical Assistance since 1976. She was a Protestant as well as a Reiki Practitioner, considering herself very spiritual though not very religious. She knew Jesus as her Beloved Lord and Savior and practiced His teachings every day. She considered herself a patchwork of spirituality intertwining her beliefs in God along with metaphysical teachings. She believed in angels and spirit guides and drew comfort from it as well as her strong relationship with Jesus. It would not be unusual to see a picture of Jesus next to a Native American prayer and an assortment of crystals in her home. She was an avid animal lover, always having an assortment in her home that included a tortoise, hamsters, fish, dogs and always cats. Locally she was known as the Squirrel Lady because she was always feeding them from her porch. She marveled how she would see the same ones over and over and even their offspring as one of them had a notched ear that was genetically passed on. She enjoyed music and dancing, even taking Ballroom Dance as a form of exercise and socializing. She enjoyed watching TV and going to the Movies. Science Fiction was always her favorite however nothing compared to her love for Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. She was very charitable both in her actions and finances. She would always help others, whether they were her friend or a stranger on the street. Color, religion or beliefs never mattered to her as she always treated everyone with the same loving spirit. She routinely gave money to the Friends of Strays, St Vincent DePaul and St Jude Children Hospital. She was always a good neighbor looking out for others over the years. As time passed and they were looking out for her, she was always very appreciative that the kindness was returned. She was never one to travel much as her favorite part was always returning home. Not to say she never went anywhere though. Her idea of a great vacation was a long weekend going to Orlando to shop on International Drive. Eating out with her family and picking up bargains to give as gifts was her idea of a great time. Going to Flea Markets and Gem Shows were always on her agenda as well. She would usually find some good deals and made friends at the Gem Show along the way that lasted for many years. Most of her friends have already transitioned to Heaven by now and were awaiting her arrival. What a homecoming that must have been! For a long time she enjoyed building signature pages on WebTV. She was able to teach others the fine art of HTML like no one else. Many others on the Web would come to her for help. She became a master of this and surprised even herself as she never thought she would be able to embrace the electronic age. She was a devoted daughter, caring for both her parents until the very end. Even though she continued to work she would always find time to care for them, eventually moving them in with her, and then into a nursing home. Not once was she ever heard complaining. She was an awesome mother to her only child and daughter Tracy, teaching her the ways of the world and to how to become an independent person. She continued being a loving caretaker for her two grandchildren Dylan and then Jennifer when her daughter had to work long hours. The lessons they learned they carry still and will pass along to their children. A short time after the passing of her husband Stanley in 1997, she met her companion and life partner Chuck. They met online through a grief group where they were consoling each other. In time, he moved from his home in Virginia to be with her and her family. He would tell you that she saved his life, encouraging him to seek medical attention and then nurturing him back to health after his open heart surgery. Her family however would say that it was him who saved her. She was never alone or wanted for a thing again right up until her last breath where he sat next to her holding her hand. They have been a blessing for each other for over 20 years. It is this type of love that is the thing of fairy tales and envied by many. She will be remembered for many things, however more than anything she was an honest hard working woman of principle who loved her family with all of her heart. She leaves behind her daughter Tracy Klimczak Woolrich, a Grandson Dylan William Woolrich, a Granddaughter Jennifer Lynn Woolrich and her loving companion Charles Roberts.

Luella Welch "Lou" Klimczak

December 28, 2020