Obituary: Mary Petruccione Hongen

Mary Petruccione Hongen,100, of Lakeland and Longboat Key, died Nov. 26. Born Jan. 19, 1914, in Amsterdam, N.Y., Mrs. Hongen graduated from Rider University, in Lawrenceville, N.J., in 1935 with a degree in business education.  She married Milton Hongen in 1937, when he was beginning his career with General Motors. They moved from Trenton, N.J., to Michigan, Ohio and Indiana during his long career.
Mr. and Mrs. Hongen lived part-time on Longboat Key for 40 years and purchased a Lakeland home in 2004.

Mrs. Hongen loved and was loved by her large extended families and the many friends she made throughout her life. She was an active volunteer and a longtime member of PEO. She enjoyed traveling, reading, opera, working crossword puzzles, playing bridge and dominoes and entertaining friends and family.

Mrs. Hongen was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Milton. She is survived by her son, Robert Hongen, of Bloomington, Ind.; daughters Mary Alice Hoepfinger, of Cookeville, Tenn.; and Karen Cardman, of Lakeland; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hongen’s family extends thanks to her caregivers, Leah Sancimino and Josephine Harmer, whose care allowed her to remain in her homes in Lakeland and Longboat Key for the past three years.

A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Dec. 20, at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Longboat Island Chapel Scholarship Fund, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, FL 34228, or the charity of the donor’s choice.