Opal C. Neerman

Neerman, Opal Conway- On Tuesday, May 11, 2004 Apopka's oldest known resident, Mrs. Opal Conway Neerman went home to be with the Lord. Mrs. Neerman was born in Fowler, Indiana on December 18, 1893. She graduated from Emmerich Training High School on June 12, 1912, and her library training resulted in work as a librarian at the Indianapolis (Ind.) Public Library. On October 12, 1921 she married Alfred Neerman, and a year later, their son and only child, James Conway Neerman was born. Opal remembered the excitement generated when Orville Wright took off on his famous flight at Kitty Hawk, NC launching the birth of aviation on December 17, 1903, one day before her 10th birthday. In 1987 at the age of 93, Opal moved to Apopka, FL to be near her brother, Clarence Conway, and sister, Lucille Parrott and their families. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Apopka, a lifetime member of the Apopka Garden Club's Magnolia Circle, and was selected as one of Apopka's Golden Age Treasures in 2002. She was thrilled to have been asked to participate in the Disney World parade when she was 105 years old, and she was also in the Apopka Christmas parade when she was 108 years old. On her 110th birthday, Opal felt very privileged and blessed to receive an honorary Alumna from the University of Central Florida, which was presented to her by Dr. Richard D. Tucker and Dr. Elizabeth Baab. In addition, Mayor John H. Land presented her with a proclamation on behalf of the city of Apopka. She was one of only 45 validated living individuals worldwide to have had the distinction of being listed on the Gerontology Research Group's website as a Supercentenarian- those persons 110 years of age and above. Opal would often be asked how she got to be 110 years old, to which she would reply "One day at a time." She was a believer in positive thinking and the power of prayer. Her philosophy of life was that your mental attitude determines your happiness, and your existence is curtailed by thinking ill of, and mistreating others. Her byword was "With a heart full of gratitude, there is no room for self pity." She was in demand for interviews, featured on television, and attended gerontology conferences. Dr. Richard D. Tucker, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Psychology at UCF described his good friend thus: "Ms. Opal was a model of successful aging- and successful living. While she gained so much attention for her longevity, it was the quality of those many years that is her legacy. Living a long time, by itself, is notable, but living and living it so well is what will be remembered. While I didn't have the privilege of knowing Ms. Opal for many of her years, both my personal and professional life has been touched and enriched by her." Preceded in death by Alfred, her husband of 38 years; son, James; brothers, Cecil, Clarence, Forrest; sister Lucille Conway Parrott. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Venetia Neerman; four granddaughters, Carol Schmidt (& James), Beth Smith (& Todd), Gail Smith (& Herman), Becky Frammolino; eight great-grandchildren, Jason and Jacquelin Schmidt, Erica, Angela, Lisa Lisa Frammolino, William, Frederick and Sammuel Smith. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 15, 2004, in the First Baptist Church of Apopka, 441 S. Highland Avenue, Apopka, with Dr. Allen H. Higginbotham officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation for friends will be in the church on Saturday, from 2:00 PM until service time. In lieu of flowers, Donations may be made in memory of Mrs. Neerman to the First Baptist church of Apopka. Newcomer Family Funeral Home, 895 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando, 407-277-4227.