Irma (Vernon) Eppley, 78, Inverness, passed this life to be with our Lord on January 29, 2011, at Citrus Memorial Hospital under the loving care of her Family and the Hospice of Citrus County. Born in Juncos, Puerto Rico, on June 15, 1932 to the late Thomas Falero and Paula Castro, Irma moved to Inverness from Redwood City, California with her late Husband Roy Lee Vernon, Sr in 1977. Irma has been an Inverness resident ever since. Educated and earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Barcelona; Irma was never able to fully transfer this education but remained dedicated to helping others. Always giving, Irma served Inverness and Citrus County in the medical field for over 35 years working initially at the Avante Nursing Home, moving to Citrus Memorial Hospital, and then finishing her career as a home health nurse. Never one to sit still, Irma continued to remain active in Inverness through her membership in the Inverness Elks Club, the “Beverly Hillbillies” Dance Club, and traveling the state of Florida and the east coast of the United States visiting Family. A dedicated mother and grandmother, Irma took great pride in seeing both of her children graduate from college and seeing her grandchildren born. A devout Catholic, Irma was a nearly 35 year parishioner of the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
Irma was preceded in death by her first husband Roy in 1982 and is survived by her loving husband of nearly 16 years Howard Eppley; her sister Nelly Falero and her husband Antonio; her children, Major (Promotable) Roy Vernon and his wife Major Caryn Vernon, Thomas Vernon and his wife Wendy, Cynthia Elias and her husband John, Eric Eppley and his wife Gina; grandchildren, Taylor, Aaron, Matthew, Ashley, and Lauren Vernon, Allison Elias and Andrew and Matthew Eppley, and nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to mention here.
Services will begin at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness on February 2 at 1000 A.M. with a viewing; catholic mass celebrating Irma’s life will begin at 1100 A.M. Family and friends wishing to join Howard will depart Our Lady of Fatima to the Veterans Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida immediately following the mass for a small ceremony.
Irma will truly be missed; she always had a kind word to give and a smile to offer.
In lieu of flowers the Family is requesting donations be provided, in Irma’s name, to the Hospice of Citrus County. Donation instructions can be found at http://www.hospiceofcitruscounty.org/page/donate.htm, or by calling the Hospice of Citrus County at 352-527-2020.
