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.
Elizabeth Santana
December 7, 2025, 9:02 pm
Penny was a wonderful neighbor. Dedicated to her work as a childcare provider and very kind. I thank God for having met her. Her personality and her kindness to my daughter and me made her feel like part of our family. We will miss her. To her husband Larry and his family, my deepest condolences, and may the moments they shared be their greatest comfort. God bless them.
Jessica Wallace
December 7, 2025, 9:18 pm
Penny was both of my kids’ very first caretaker outside of our own home. She took them in as early as 6 weeks old, and loved them like one of her own grandchildren. Penny will be missed dearly, as she touched the lives of many.
Melissa
December 8, 2025, 6:38 am
My condolences to all on the loss of such a vibrant soul departed too soon.
Belinda Robinson
December 8, 2025, 11:52 am
I met Penny at Kmart. We became friends quickly. At one point she became my neighbor and we were very close then. She watched my son for a bit when he was around 2 years old. She was a special lady just everyone gets so busy with everything . We did drift over time. God rest her soul.
Rita Bauwens
December 8, 2025, 6:47 pm
Larry you have our deepest condolences also to your sons and to Daniel. Jeff has lost his little sister. He is heartbroken from this. She was a copy cat of him in many ways he feels and will deeply miss her. She watched our daughter Karlie as a baby for us for 2 years. She was always good to both my kids Anthony and Karlie. Always had sweets ready to give to them too. She will always be in our hearts forever until we all meet up again.
Carol Satterfield
December 9, 2025, 2:03 pm
My deepest condolences to all of Gees family and friends 🧡 Gee was a very special sassy little lady ❤️ and we will miss her dearly.
We met Gee and Larry back in 2016 when we welcomed Rae Rae to the world. Gee cared for Rae every day, Monday through friday, teaching and nurturing her in all the best ways. Then we had Charlie… she did the same for her from 2021 till she just started school this year. We have always been more like family. My babies love Gee like no other. More like a grandma than anything. Gee was there for me as a supportive figure through some of the toughest moments of my life, as well. I am forever grateful to have had Gee in our lives. She lives on in our memories and silly little sayings we’ve picked up from her 🙂
I sure do hope heaven has a large shoe closet for my Gee. She had impeccable taste in “kicks” 👞
Love and hugs and sweets 🫂
Judith Poling
December 11, 2025, 3:44 pm
I met my dear friend at Kmart many years ago. I new her kids, she knew mine . I would visit her home from time to time and she mine. We were to be friends for longer than this. She was taken way to soon. I will miss her dearly. Larry, you and your children have my deepest condolences.
Erika
December 19, 2025, 1:02 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with Larry and the family.
Penny was a lovely lady who loved to talk, which was a good thing because so do I. We didn’t know each other too well, I was introduced to her from a coworker recommending her for my daughter, but from our short time of knowing one another, I know that she absolutely loved what she did, her boys and her husband. The first time her and I spoke, she went on and on about the guys in her life and her grandbabies. You can tell she was proud and full of love.
She was a one of a kind woman and she will be greatly missed.
My deepest condolences to her family and friends ❤️