Gilligan, Anita

Diana Durham

35w ago

I have so many beautiful memories of my Beautiful Anita. She was the first person I met when I moved to Florida. She showed up at my door with a welcome care package. Big beautiful smile on her face. From that moment on we became the closest of friends and grew to love each other like family❤️ we shared many adventures together. Dancing to the music on the beach, visiting places around Florida. She didn’t like to sit still. Always on the go. Dressed so elegant everyday. We shared a lot of stories. Hers being way more interesting than mine. I was always in awe over her wisdom her energy and her wit. I told her often how amazing she was. We shared many meals together. She always wanted to set the dining room like we were having a fancy dinner. She loved that. We laughed so much together and shared tears to. I will miss her so much. I am so blessed to have known her and will cherish my memories of her in my heart forever. Fly high my Beautiful Angel 😇
Love you always my dear friend.

Diana Durham

Rose Downing

35w ago

One of my fondest memories of Anita is sitting with her while she told stories from her childhood during the Depression. She could bring the past to life with such detail that I felt like I was right there beside her, seeing what she saw and feeling what she felt.

Anita taught me to speak my mind and be true to myself, even if not everyone agrees with me. She lived that lesson every day.

One Christmas, she surprised me, my husband, and Alex with tickets to the New Port Richey theater — the historic Richey Suncoast Theatre, a beautiful 1920s movie house turned live performance venue that has been a cultural treasure in our community for generations. She wanted us to enjoy not just the performance, but the history and charm of the place. That same holiday season, she told me about the historic Hacienda Hotel and encouraged us to try it so we could experience its unique charm. We ended up treating her to a Christmas lunch there, and it became a special shared memory. She also gave me tickets for an elegant afternoon tea at a special tea shop on Main Street, known for its delicate treats and refined atmosphere. Anita wanted me to experience and enjoy the unique places in New Port Richey that she loved.

One afternoon I’ll never forget, we sat together as she described being a little girl in New York, watching the snow fall outside her window. She told it so vividly that I could almost feel the cold and see the snowflakes, even while we sat here in sunny Florida.

And, of course, Anita often made me smile with her quick wit and sassy remarks. Even on her grumpier days, she could say something so unexpected that I couldn’t help but laugh.

I am going to miss my kind, caring, sweet, and sometimes feisty friend. The past four years have been truly wonderful with her.

Rose Downing

35w ago

Anita taught me to speak my mind and be true to myself, even if not everyone agrees with me. She lived that lesson every day.

And, of course, Anita often made me smile with her quick wit and sassy remarks. Even on her grumpier days, she could say something so unexpected that I couldn’t help but laugh.

I am going to miss my kind, caring, sweet, and sometimes feisty friend. The past four years have been truly wonderful with her.

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