Obituary of Anita Stuart

Anita Stuart, (Age 61), of Punta Gorda passed away peacefully on 11 June, 2019 surround by family and friends. For over three and a half years she was dauntless in her battle with pancreatic cancer. Anita's faith, family, friends, neighbors and Yogis supported her long fight against cancer and ultimately they also gave her peace. Anita geboren Glasemackers, was the youngest child of Peter-Matthias and Sibilla (Betty) Glasemackers. Born on August 2, 1957 in Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany within the castle battlements of Burg Kempen where 19 years later she would also be engaged to her best friend and later husband Scott. She has two surviving siblings her sister Annette and brother Matthias. In her early teens she competed in European Aquatics competitions earning several medals and awards in her specialties Freestyle and Butterfly. Completing Vocational-Technical school she began and was successful as a designer of men's and women's apparel specializing in fashion accessory design; however, shoes were her fashion passion. As she traveled the world she would name her shoes after the city or country where she acquired them, Rome and Tokyo were her favorites after her blinged-out versions of Yogi Birkenstocks. She often said… I already own enough shoes…"Said No One Ever". Before retiring and moving to Punta Gorda, Anita worked as a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) in a Rehab Hospital rehabilitating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and helping patients overcome surgical or physical challenges. Owing in part to her superpowers in motivating patients who had given up on restorative therapy she was called upon by Physical Therapist to help with the most problematic and stubborn cases. She instinctively found that one thing that ultimately motivated that patient to progress and eventually to leave the hospital. Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2015 Anita endured surgeries followed by numerous cycles of chemo and radiation therapies. She selflessly volunteered for and participated in clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland where she met some of the most extraordinary Doctors, Scientists and Nurses dedicated to Cancer research and turning discovery into cures. While at NIH she would knit dozens of chemo caps for the kids undergoing therapies for rare cancers. Anita will be greatly missed by many, her husband of 43 years Scott and son Nigel, her fellow Yogis, friends, neighbors and family all over the world. Anita was always outgoing and very social; she could strike up a conversation with just about anyone, anywhere and was a magnet for children and animals; she always believed children and animals could see into your true soul. She frequently said and appreciated that God had put some amazing people on her path and in her life at just the precise time. A celebration of Anita's life will be held at the 1st United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda FL on 22 June at 11:00 AM. A Luncheon reception for family and friends will be held immediately following. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made in Anita's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=wtg-lz-donatenow and/or the American Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Action Network https://www.pancan.org/ways-to-give/