Penny (Bauwens) Naples, age 64, of Pinellas Park, passed away at home on December 4, 2025.
Born in Peoria, IL, Penny moved with her family to Florida in 1970. She graduated from Pinellas Park High School, where she was a cheerleader and played the piccolo in the band. She worked at K-Mart for 20 years, serving in various roles, including Customer Service, Bakery, and Eatery. It was here she met her best friend and partner-in-crime, Laura Karlhofer.
She left K-Mart in 1993 to open her in-home daycare center, Miss Penny’s Sassy Fun Center, which she owned and operated for over 30 years. Penny played a pivotal role in the lives of the many children lucky enough to be in her care. Known to the kids as “GeeGee”, each was loved as if they were her own grandchild (and some of them were!).
Penny married her husband, Larry, in 1996. They took great joy in bringing their families together and spending time with their many grandchildren.
Penny was a spitfire who always “told it like it is”. Her children, grandchildren, and daycare children filled her heart and gave her life purpose. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.
She is survived by her loving husband of 29 years, Larry; her brother, Jeff; her sister, Lori; her children, Daniel (Randi) Jasmer, Christopher (Kelly) Selleck, Brian (Stephanie) Naples, and Matthew Naples; and her sweets (her grandchildren): Robert, Caleb, Layla, Kyla, Emily, Caiden, Carter, and Delilah. She is reunited in peace with her mother, Jane; her father, Dale; and her brother, Bruce.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Penny’s name to the Suncoast Hospice Foundation (https://suncoasthospicefoundation.org/donations2/). Their amazing nurses and social workers helped make an incredibly difficult process manageable.
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