Obituary of Charlotte Krasny

Althea Krasny was born on November 28, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan to Harold O. Jones and Charlotte Lundberg Jones.

Althea moved to Florida in 1945, sailing with her parents and sisters, Marilyn and Janet, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in an ocean-going ketch that her father hand-crafted in their back yard. The family lived for a short time in Tampa before homesteading a hundred-acre farm outside of Dade City.

Althea graduated from Pasco High School where she was an honor student, editor of the high school annual and co-valedictorian of her class. She raised a calf she named Bunthorn on her family's farm and sold it to purchase her first clarinet, which she played in the Pasco High School Band. As a dedicated and gifted musician, Althea went on to receive a full Music Scholarship at the University of Miami, where she was a member of the University of Miami 'Band of the Hour' under the direction of Henry Fillmore.

At the University, she pledged Delta Zeta sorority and was president of The Future Teachers of America. She graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Education and was inducted into Mortar Board Honor Society.

In her Logic class at the University of Miami, Althea was intrigued by the young man seated next to her carefully writing out Chinese characters. She began dating him and following her graduation in 1958, they married. She taught at Kinloch Park Junior High in Miami while her husband Mike completed his studies at the University of Miami School of Law.

Following Mike's graduation, they moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where Althea taught at Rickards Junior High School, and where, in 1960, the first of their five children, Gary Mitchell (Mitch), was born.

In 1962, Mike and Althea moved to Eau Gallie, Florida, where they immediately became involved in the community. Althea taught at Eau Gallie Junior High School and later, at Hoover Junior High School.

Althea was a founding member of the Melbourne Municipal Band, playing clarinet and serving as its President and as a member of its Board of Trustees for many decades. Althea was a dedicated volunteer, tirelessly serving the community. She was a member of The Junior League of South Brevard, Melbourne Alumnae Panhellenic, The Haven Guild and the Women's Center Guild.

She was a dedicated band-mom, a constant chauffeur of her children and their many friends, all of whom were blessed to enjoy her kindness and her sweet, welcoming nature. She was a loving mother and a doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed scuba diving, skiing, music and reading.

She is survived by her children Mitch (Maria), Robin (Ross), Scott (Sonia), Glenn (Suzanne) and Keith (Teresa); her grandchildren Ivan (Anna), Jack, Hannah Parker (John Blake), Allie and Oceanna Steinig (Nickolas); her great-grandsons, Ivan Jr., Maxim and Leo; her daughter-in-law Mary Krasny, her god-granddaughter Veronika Zaytseva; her sister Janet Pitts; niece Mary Buth; nephew Matthew Pitts (Michelle); nephew Curt Cowley (Kim); niece Suzanne Bingham, niece Karen Cowley (Sharra), niece Melanie Jacobson and nephew Michael Coleman.

Althea was predeceased by her beloved husband Mike; her grandson Michael Krasny; her sister Marilyn Cowley, her grand-nephew Matthew Buth, nephew-in-law Chad Bingham, sisters-in-law Lane Coleman (Milton) and Charlotte 'Sissy' Mendelson (Harry); and her nieces Joanna Oberman and Carol Wertheimer.

Althea's family sends deep appreciation and gratitude to the wonderful doctors, nurses and staff at Victoria Landing, Holmes Regional, Melbourne Regional, Sea Pines Rehabilitation and Vitas Hospice.

Althea was born on Thanksgiving Day 1935 and passed on Thanksgiving Day 2023. A memorial to give thanks for and celebrate her wonderful life will take place at Beach Funeral Home, Indian Harbour Beach, on Friday, December 1st at 11:00am.

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