Dec. 7, 1922 – July 8, 2016

 

PASS CHRISTIAN — A celebration of life service for Myrtis Ladner Serafin, 93, who died peacefully Friday, July 8, 2016, will be at noon today at Riemann Family Funeral Home Chapel, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport.   

Burial will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery under the direction of Riemann Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Serafin was born Dec. 7, 1922, in Pass Christian, the daughter of Nicholas Ladner and Justin´A Cuevas Ladner.

She graduated from Pass Christian High School and began her career at Keesler Air Force Base. She met the love of her life, John Serafin Jr., and when he returned from the war, they were married. They began their life together in Wilkes-Baree, Pa., John’s hometown. He obtained a college degree in secondary education and Myrtis continued her civil service work for the government. During this time they were also blessed with their first-born daughter. A job opportunity to teach on the Gulf Coast and coach basketball at the school gave them a chance to move their family back to where they met. They knew Gulfport was where they wanted to raise a family and two sons were born in the years to follow.

Myrtis was a devoted wife and mother. She was active in various PTAs, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, basketball teams and church activities in their community. She and John always enjoyed volunteering their cooking/baking skills for the annual preparations for the Greek Night Celebrations at John’s church. She had hobbies in the arts, writing, sewing and her yard.

She was a gifted seamstress who would design and make the patterns for the dresses she would sew for herself, as well as friends. For her wedding, she designed and made her dress and the dresses for her bridesmaids.

Myrtis’ life was often shared with the close relationships she had with her sisters and brothers.

After her husband died, one of the highlights of her weekend would be to drive out to the Delisle community of Pass Christian and always find one of her family members at home with an open door, rocking chair or porch swing and a cup of coffee (and maybe fresh biscuits.)

John and Doris Carroll and Joyce Kotulski were Myrtis’ longtime “bingo buddies” and rarely did they miss a weekend of fun and fellowship at the American Legion. Myrtis was also blessed to have her dear friends and caring neighbors, Kathy and Bruce White and Barbara Himes. She depended on Kevin Lee when she could not work on one of her favorite outdoor hobbies anymore, taking care of her yard and her roses. She rode her lawnmower until she gave it up at 80.

Mrs. Serafin was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years; her parents; two sisters, Gladys Ladner and husband, Randolph, and Marietta Guidry and husband, Larry; a dear sister-in-law, Edna Ladner; and one brother-in-law, Eugis Dubuisson.

Survivors include two sons, John Serafin III and wife, Patty, of Natchez and Mark Serafin and wife, Mary, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; one daughter, Mary Alfonso and husband, Andy Alfonso Jr., of Gulfport; seven grandchildren, Marlee Kate Jones and husband, Garrett, of Natchez, Brian Serafin and wife, Megan, of Fort Walton Beach, Rebecca Serafin and Kristin Serafin, both of Nashville, Tenn., Paul Alfonso of Gulfport, Andy Alfonso III and wife, Suzanne, of Ocean Springs and Andrea Alfonso Crowson of Austin, Texas; 10 precious great-grandchildren continue another generation, Molly Kate Jones, Natalie Serafin, Katherine Serafin, Alden Alfonso, Caitlin Alfonso, Ethan Alfonso, Ella Emerson Alfonso, Ivan Crowson, Samuel Crowson and Jude Crowson; and her sisters and brothers, Nancy Dubuisson, Joan Ladner and husband, Lavell, Lee Ladner and wife, Eunice, Bidwell Ladner and wife, Doris, and Bernard Ladner and wife, Carol.

The family is very grateful for the many dedicated caregivers and physicians who assisted them in recent months and to the staff of Garden Park, 3A wing.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cedar Lake Christian Academy, 11555 Cedar Lake Road, Biloxi, MS 39532.

Online condolences may be sent to riemannfamily.com.