Rhoda Jewel Williams

Rhoda Jewel McLane Williams, 85 of Good Samaritan Retirement Village, Kissimmee passed away on Feb. 12, 2020. She was born on May 21, 1934 in Buffalo NY to Joseph Albert McLane and Martha Turley McLane, and was named after her aunts Rhodamary Agnes McLane and Jewel Exelina McLane. She grew up in Syracuse NY, and was a long time resident of Phoenix NY before moving to Kissimmee Fl. Survivors include son Keith Williams of Kissimmee Fl and daughter Valerie Williams of Liverpool NY, special cousins William and Dee Templeton of Kissimmee and their family who have provided much support over the past few years, niece-in law Nancy Poquadeck (who was like another sister) of Syracuse, NY and multitudes of friends, neighbors, nieces, nephews, cousins, and sisters- and brothers- in law. Rhoda started kindergarten while her family lived in Rochester, and by middle school they were living in Syracuse, where she graduated in 1952 from Onondaga Valley Academy. She enjoyed childhood trips to visit her family in Michigan and Missouri, including an uncle who owned a hog farm and yelled at her for walking across the backs of the hogs in the pen, she had not realized the danger. She recalled a long train ride with her mother during World War 2 when the train was filled with traveling soldiers who treated her to candy and let her sleep on their duffle bags. In high school she enjoyed horse back riding, until a horse fell on her. She was rarely without pets in the home, especially the most recent: Spunky (aka Spooky), Shadow, and Calie the Calico cat. She met husband Manley on a blind date set up by her brother in law Ted Poquadeck, who was also moonlighting as a bartender with Manley. They went to a Syracuse Nationals basketball game, and got married a couple of years later at the First Baptist church in Syracuse with a reception at Marion Manor catering hall. They first lived in Syracuse before moving to Phoenix, Manley’s hometown. Rhoda worked for many years in medical and insurance offices in Syracuse and Kissimmee/Orlando, also for the Telephone company in the 1950s as a switchboard operator on the old style plug in boards, and at Nationwide Insurance. Her most interesting story was of one of the Kissimmee doctors offices where the staff was invited to visit Cypress Cove for lunch. She was relieved and happy to learn visitors can keep their clothes on if they wish to. She retired from working in the Good Sam Cares home care office of Good Samaritan Village in Kissimmee, and some of the current staff at Good Samaritan recall her from her work days there. She held many volunteer positions over the years, including Give Kids the World, Boy/Cub Scouts Den mother, Camp Fire Girls leader and camp volunteer, church youth group leader, Lions and Lioness clubs, and several United Methodist church volunteer roles over the years as well as serving as the church secretary in Phoenix NY. She was also employed for several years as a teachers aide in Phoenix schools. She served as the Welcome Wagon Lady for Phoenix/Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce. She worked a short time for the Census, although got in trouble for asking extra questions. That job didn’t last too long as she didn’t like being out in the Florida heat. She was a member of several United Methodist churches over the years, first in Phoenix and then the Kissimmee/Orlando area, most recently attending Peace UM Church in Hunters Creek until she became homebound. Her hobbies have been reading, crocheting, and the new found fun bingo and adult coloring books at Good Sam Care Center (she kept changing her mind about what to do with her bingo dollars). She had 4 residences while at Good Samaritan: Scotland Rd, Straight St, Wonderland Park Lane, and finally was at the Care Center for the past several months. She spoke highly of the many neighbors over the years. She has received excellent care at Good Samaritan, and it is clear why they are ranked very high on the Medicare quality listings. The past month or so she was also receiving services from Cornerstone Hospice services while still at Good Samaritan. We are glad she was as comfortable as possible during her final weeks. Her challenges of late were Congestive Heart failure, COPD, end stage kidney failure (in her remaining kidney after the cancer surgery about 15 years ago) and recurrent pneumonia. She was tired of being “messed with” and didn’t want much further treatment other than meds and oxygen. When people get to a stage where they can’t move themselves around anymore, choices are limited of what to do. It is a blessing we have facilities who provide such good compassionate care to our elderly. She was predeceased by husband Manley Williams, sisters Rosemary McLane (Mrs. Daniel) Spier and A. Maxine McLane (Mrs. Theodore) Poquadeck and brother Thomas McLane, as well as her parents. A Memorial Gathering will be held at Osceola Memory Gardens, 1717 Old Boggy Creek Rd, Kissimmee 34744 from 1 to 4 pm on Feb. 29, 2020, and a memorial service will be held on February 29, 2020 at 4 pm at Osceola Memory Gardens, with inurnment on Monday March 2, 2020 (time to be determined later) at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell Fl. Further details are available at www.osceolamemgds.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Phoenix NY public library (34 Elm St, Phoenix NY 13135) or the Good Samaritan Kissimmee Care Center Activities/Library fund (4250 Village Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34746).

Rhoda Jewel Williams

May 21, 1934 - February 12, 2020