Hortense I. Burgess

Hortense Ismay Mahoney was born on December 5, 1921, in Lluidas Vale, Jamaica West Indies, to William Mahoney and Emaline Williams. Her father William was a farmer who instilled in his children the attributes of hard work and responsibility. She was the second oldest of eight children. She attended Lluidas Vale School and successfully sat the 3rd Jamaica Local Examination, the prerequisite for entry into professional training. She was a ?re-trained teacher for a short while before deciding that nursing was her calling. She completed training as a nurse at Port Antonio Hospital. She practiced her profession in Jamaica until she migrated to the United States in the 1950s when she began working at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital specializing in the care of premature infants. In 1953, Hortense married Seymour Theodore Burgess, a young man she knew from her days working as a nurse in Buff Bay, Jamaica. Seymour was as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician who quickly rose to management with a local Bronx contractor. The couple made their home in New York City where they raised two children Sonia Pamela and Seymour Jr. Hortense also sponsored a number of children through generous contributions to Foster Parent Plan and the Love a Child Mission. In the early 1960's Hortense began working at Brookdale Medical Center and remained there for over 25 years. Seymour and Hortense retired to North Port Florida in 1985. The couple were avid gardeners eventually winning local awards for the vegetable and flower gardens surrounding their home. Seymour and Hortense attended the Bethlehem Assembly of God Church in Richmond Hill, New York, and upon moving to Florida joined the Full Gospel Assembly of God in Port Charlotte. Most recently she attended Gulf Coast Assembly of God in North Port, Florida. Hortense Ismay Mahoney Burgess passed on peacefully to be with our heavenly Father on January 15, 2012. She was preceded in death by her husband Seymour, sister Shirley, and brother Arnett (Jeff). She is survived by daughter Sonia Pamela, son Seymour Jr., sisters Eva and Nerry, brothers Charles, Keith and Ren, stepsister Claudia, stepbrother Edwin, and grandchildren Elton, Franka and Sean. Hortense was surrounded by nieces Gloria, Mavia and Keisha at the time of her passing. Hortense touched many lives through her religious faith, compassion and generosity. She was greatly loved by family, co-workers and friends. Her belief, hard work, individual spirit and unusual kindness will live in our hearts and inspire our days. Rest in peace. The family will receive friends 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Friday, January 20, 2012 at Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services. A funeral service to celebrate Hortense's life will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Gulf Coast Assembly of God Church in North Port, FL. Memorial donations may be made to Love A Child, Inc., P.O. Box 60063, Fort Myers, FL 33906. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.