The Laker/Lutz News

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Loyless Funeral Home

She was a master at making connections

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Cindy Freeman worked in a job that required excellent networking skills.

Fortunately for her and the people she met, she had them.

The 57-year-old woman, from Land O’ Lakes, succumbed to her battle with esophageal cancer on Aug. 29. Her funeral services were on Sept. 2, at Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’ Lakes.

Freeman worked as the membership coordinator for The Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce, helping new members become familiar with the community and helping established members make new connections.

Cindy Freeman
Cindy Freeman

She sincerely cared about helping others succeed, friends of Freeman said, during recent interviews.

So, when the 57-year-old woman from Land O’ Lakes became ill, her absence from Wesley Chapel functions was noticeable, said Ghada Jadallah, the chef for Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, a catering business with a coffee shop at Pasco-Hernando State College.

Jadallah described Freeman as “the kindest person” who would “do anything to help you.”

“She helped me in every possible way somebody could help me,” Jadallah said, noting Freeman often helped Jadallah make connections with people who needed catering services.

Freeman’s help made a difference, Jadallah added.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this woman is such a beautiful creature.’ She really cared. That’s why I loved her so much,” Jadallah added.

When Jadallah learned that Freeman was ill, she wanted to deliver meals to her. But, she found out that Freeman couldn’t eat.

Freeman’s death was a tremendous loss for Hope Allen, the chamber’s executive director.

“Her heart was good — she was an amazing asset to our organization,” Allen said.

“Every member, every day. That was our slogan,” Allen said. “Some days it was just one member, but she went above and beyond to help anyone she could.”

“She was so giving. So giving of her time. Of anything, she was just giving,” Allen said.

“It was a big loss for a lot of people. She definitely was well thought of, and loved.”

Valerie Rudmin, owner of Everlasting Beauty, met Freeman through the chamber.

“She was so caring and so nice to everybody. She made everybody feel at home, when you met her,” Rudmin said.

“She was always there for the ribbon cuts. She was a real genuine person. She wasn’t a phony. Everybody just adored this woman.

“She really felt like it was her job to connect people together and to introduce people,” said Rudmin, who is an ambassador for the chamber.

Freeman’s death was a jolt, she said.

“This is just totally shocking. I can’t believe she’s actually gone,” Rudmin said.

While Freeman was struggling with cancer, a GoFundMe account was set up to help with expenses.

Now, her friends are stepping forward to help cover funeral costs and other expenses.

Jadallah, who provided the food after Freeman’s funeral, said there was talk before Freeman died to host a fundraiser to benefit her and her family.

She hopes that still will happen.

“I hope all of Wesley Chapel comes together and does something (to help),” Jadallah said.

Freeman is survived by her husband, Kenneth Freeman; her son, Aaron Freijomel; her daughter, Morgan Beeler; her brothers, Nelo Jr. and Tony; her sisters, Gale and Kim; and, a grandchild, Brady.

Those wishing to help can do so at Cindy Freeman’s GoFundMe account, at GoFundMe.com/b7z26v5c.
Or, they can drop off donations at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd.

Published September 9, 2015

Crabby Floyd: A hard worker with a quick wit

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“God needed another crabber, so he called out for Crabby Floyd.”

So reads the first sentence of “Crabby” Floyd DeForest’s obituary, published on the website of Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’ Lakes.

‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics. (Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)
‘Crabby’ Floyd DeForest was a hard-working crabber, who loved his family, served his community and enjoyed sharing his opinions about politics.
(Courtesy of Loyless Funeral Home)

DeForest, 63 of Lutz, died Feb. 20, after a battle with cancer.

He was a commercial fisherman, but after the net bans went into effect, he became a crabber, said Richard Ortiz, a long-time friend of DeForest.

“He was such a vibrant man,” Ortiz said.

“He’s the first person I met when I moved up here,” said Ortiz, who has lived in the area for about 20 years.

“As soon as I moved into the house, he came over and introduced himself, and we remained friends from that day on,” Ortiz said.

DeForest used to refer to himself as “a round man,” Ortiz added. “He’d say, ‘This little round man can move.’ ”

That was true, Ortiz continued.

“If I had to sit down and pick the hardest working person I’ve known, it would have to be Floyd,” Ortiz said.

When Ortiz went out in the morning to pick up his newspaper, he’d see DeForest pulling out of the driveway with his truck and his boat.

“I’d see him leaving before sun up, and I’d see him coming (home) after sundown. It’d be cold out. It’d be hot out. It’d be bad weather. If he could go, he’d go.

“For all of the time I ever knew that man, I can say that I never, ever, ever heard him complain about his job,” Ortiz said.

“He enjoyed life,” said Lorraine DeForest, Crabby Floyd’s wife of 42 years. “He always considered himself so fortunate because he worked at a job that he loved.”

DeForest was widely known as a crabber.

“Everybody knew what he did,” Ortiz said. “People would come up and knock on his door and ask for crab.”

Often, DeForest would stop and chat with Ortiz, as he headed out to work or on his way home.

“He was a very outgoing, jovial guy. He always had a joke for you,” Ortiz said. “He was very quick-witted. Very bright, too. He stayed up on politics.”

DeForest had plenty of opinions and was always ready to share them.

“You knew where Floyd stood,” Ortiz said.

He also was involved in the community.

He was on the boards for both Land O’ Lakes Police Athletic League football and the Land O’ Lakes Little League and volunteered for the Land O’ Lakes High School Girls’ Softball team.

“We became friends when we coached football together,” said Cary Williams, noting that was 22 years ago.

The men and their families became close, sharing holidays together.

Williams and DeForest used to fish and hunt together, too.

DeForest was the kind of person who would go out in the middle of the night to help someone who was out on the water having boat problems, Williams said.

“He was the type of guy you could count on,” Williams said.

“He was a very conservative man,” Williams added, and he was politically involved.

“He would take the time to call state, federal and local politicians and them his opinion,” Williams said.

Chris Carollo, who owns Shadow Solutions Firearms in Lutz, said DeForest used to come hang out at his gun shop to shoot the breeze with other patrons.

“He loved to tell old stories,” Carollo said.

He also was very helpful.

In fact, when Carollo was getting ready to open his business, DeForest pitched in to help paint the walls.

Friends honored DeForest in posts in an electronic guestbook created by Loyless Funeral Home. They praised DeForest’s work ethic, his devotion to family and his coaching.

One post also mentions his contribution to providing “tasty memories” for thousands of families.

Besides his wife, Lorraine, DeForest is survived by his son, Floyd R.; his daughter, Candace; his mother, Elba; his brother, Rick and his wife, Loretta; nephews, a great niece and other family members and friends.

Ortiz said DeForest is the kind of man who deserved to be remembered.

“There are people out there that do things every day, and they don’t go out looking for credit, and they don’t go looking for accolades. That’s just them. That’s the kind of guy that Floyd was,” Ortiz said.

“I’m going to miss him terribly. I already miss seeing him,” Ortiz said.

Memorial service for Floyd DeForest
7 p.m., March 5 at Loyless Funeral Home, 5310 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Floyd DeForest’s memory to Gulfside Hospice

Published March 4, 2015