Penny Naples

Penny Naples

Penny Naples

August 14, 1961~December 04, 2025

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.

Condolence

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 ❤️

Carol Satterfield

January 31, 2026, 6:59 pm

Gee came into our lives through something practical, almost transactional at first — childcare, schedules, logistics. But very quickly, she became so much more than that. She became someone we trusted with our children, our days, our rhythms. And in doing so, she quietly became part of our family.
From the moment she cared for RaeLynn and Charlotte, she treated them like they mattered deeply — not just as kids she watched, but as humans she loved. She was steady. She was kind. She was generous with her time, her patience, and her heart. She showed up every day in ways that didn’t ask for recognition, but made all the difference.
Gee didn’t just help raise my children — she helped me. During some of the hardest chapters of my life, she was a calm presence. She reminded me how to mother with strength and grace when things felt overwhelming. She helped me stay grounded when chaos felt close. Her support was quiet, consistent, and deeply felt.
Even though we only had a few days to prepare for her passing, the impact of her life didn’t disappear with her. The love she gave is still here — in my children, in our memories, in the way she helped shape our family during those formative years. Her generosity created safety, and that safety lives on.
Gee was chosen family. Not because we needed to call her that, but because she lived it. She loved us fully, without conditions or complications. And we felt that — completely, to the core.
I am grateful beyond words that our lives intersected with hers. I will always carry her with me — in how I show up for my kids, in how I extend kindness, and in how I honor the people who quietly help hold us together.
Thank you, Gee. I love and miss you ❤️

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