In Memory Of
Zona Mengel
1945
2021
Zona Mengel
June 27, 1945 — January 10, 2021
Zona Mengel, 75, died peacefully on January 10 after living for four years with cancer. Born Zona Faye Nussbaum in Wooster, Ohio in 1945, she was the oldest of six children. Music and church were prominent features of her small-town childhood, and she played the piano and vibraphone on Sundays. After graduating from Smithville High School, she received a scholarship to attend Johns Hopkins Nursing School in Baltimore, where she earned an RN degree and later taught at the nursing school.
After marrying, Zona and her husband moved in 1971 with children Beth and David to Gainesville and then to the Orlando area, where daughter Julie was born. The family became very active in the fledgling Northland Community Church where Zona played the piano and helped to direct music for more than sixteen years. After a divorce in 1989, she entered an intensive counseling program and returned to school to earn first her Bachelors degree in Psychology and then a Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychology. Later she worked at Florida—now Advent—Hospital. She taught nursing as an adjunct faculty at UCF and Valencia before opening a private counseling practice that focused on supporting people to overcome addictions. She found joy in passing on to others the concepts and coping mechanisms that she had learned. Zona always enjoyed helping and serving others, but also learned to ask for help when she was in need.
Zona's relationships with God and with others were her lifelong priorities. Many friends and family enriched her life and supported her through the tough times. She is survived by her siblings Nevin, Monet, Oral, and Sheldon; her children Beth Thompson (Alan), David Mengel (Emily) and Julie Garlington (Marshall); and her grandchildren Bethany (Joseph), Cody, Eleanor, Claire, Haven, and Seamus.
A celebration service will be held at Northland Church later in the year, once pandemic conditions allow for safe gathering. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to Northland's anti-human trafficking ministry, 121HOPE, or to other programs of your choice.
To share your memories of Zona or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
After marrying, Zona and her husband moved in 1971 with children Beth and David to Gainesville and then to the Orlando area, where daughter Julie was born. The family became very active in the fledgling Northland Community Church where Zona played the piano and helped to direct music for more than sixteen years. After a divorce in 1989, she entered an intensive counseling program and returned to school to earn first her Bachelors degree in Psychology and then a Masters Degree in Counseling and Psychology. Later she worked at Florida—now Advent—Hospital. She taught nursing as an adjunct faculty at UCF and Valencia before opening a private counseling practice that focused on supporting people to overcome addictions. She found joy in passing on to others the concepts and coping mechanisms that she had learned. Zona always enjoyed helping and serving others, but also learned to ask for help when she was in need.
Zona's relationships with God and with others were her lifelong priorities. Many friends and family enriched her life and supported her through the tough times. She is survived by her siblings Nevin, Monet, Oral, and Sheldon; her children Beth Thompson (Alan), David Mengel (Emily) and Julie Garlington (Marshall); and her grandchildren Bethany (Joseph), Cody, Eleanor, Claire, Haven, and Seamus.
A celebration service will be held at Northland Church later in the year, once pandemic conditions allow for safe gathering. In lieu of flowers, donations may be offered to Northland's anti-human trafficking ministry, 121HOPE, or to other programs of your choice.
To share your memories of Zona or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Zona Mengel, please visit our flower store.
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