Ida Mae Weinhold

Ida Mae Weinhold, having completed her earthly journey, passed peacefully into eternal rest just before midnight on July 18, 2026 at the blessed age of 92-1/2. A child of the depression era, Ida was born on January 15, 1934 in the small village of Philadelphia, New York, the tenth and youngest child of Charles and Carrie Weinhold. Considering the year of her birth and the size of her family, Ida knew first hand the struggles of living meagerly. This no doubt shaped her lifelong views of the benefits of hard work and living a frugal lifestyle. While some would say the Weinhold clan possessed a characteristic of stubbornness, we’ve come to see in Ida Mae not stubbornness, but determination. She was an overcomer of trials that came her way. Early in life Ida discovered the joy of sewing. She won her first blue ribbon through 4-H at just ten years old. A highlight of her sewing expertise came during high school when a beautifully created dress won awards from the local to the state level. This award resulted in a memorable trip to New York City where she and other winners were treated to lunch at the Waldorf Astoria and a high-kicking Rockettes show. In high school Ida was a cheerleader, drum major, an actor, a runner and voted the Most Outstanding Girl in her senior class. In the ’50’s Ida held jobs as a lab technician and a telephone operator, mastering the tangle of switchboard cords, connecting folks to one another. In later years she used this skill at Ft. Drum Army Post. In 1952 Ida married Richard (Dick) Cardinal. The couple began their lives in Watertown, New York. While the marriage didn’t last it did result in the birth of her beloved daughters, Connie and Nancy. In 1969 Ida made a life changing decision when she married Bernard Fitzgerald. She and her daughters joined Bernard when they moved from the cold climes of Northern New York to sunny Tampa, Florida. There, Ida and her new husband were the proprietors of a small trailer park. For many years they summered in a cozy cottage in northern New York enjoying happy times with friends and family. It was here that a friend affectionately nick-named Ida “Tidy Idy.” In 1988 Bernard and Ida moved to Tallahassee to begin a life closer to Nancy and her family. The marriage to Bernard ended in 1996. At this juncture of life Ida truly came into her own as she embraced her independence, finding true joy in life. Working at Sam and Nancy’s Tallahassee business, Awards4U, she delighted in making friends within the business and with the customers she greeted. In 1997 she was selected as Employee of the Year. This somewhat quiet, introverted woman discovered her true self as she displayed an inward and outward beauty, bringing forth a shine and radiance heretofore constrained. Retirement at age 79 never slowed Ida down. She baked for neighbors, kept up an exercise routine, sent cards to loved ones and cheered enthusiastically for FSU. As a faithful member of her Tuesday senior Saints Alive group at Killearn Methodist, she’d go early to pick up flowers at Trader Joe’s. She and other gals would then arrange them into bouquets to adorn the tables. Tech-savvy to the end, her iPad kept her close to news and family by text, and she treasured Christmases with Connie’s family every other year in Texas. Along the way Ida discovered her talent for painting and tried her hand at calligraphy, mastering it with a flourish. As Ida reflected back to her beginnings she was humbled by how far she’d come in life and was forever thankful for the journey that carried her through a life well lived. Ida Mae was predeceased by her parents; brothers Charles, Claude, Lawrence, Clyde, John and James and sisters Marion, Muriel and Betty. Left to cherish her memory are daughters Connie (Danny) Sharon of San Antonio (Dr. Nathaniel Sharon, David Sharon), Nancy (Sam) Varn of Tallahassee (Adam Varn, Justin Varn), step-son Gary Fitzgerald (Syracuse) and Wendy Fitzgerald (Brewerton) (Stephen, Andrew, Courtney), several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many dear friends. Ida’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, August 22nd at 2 PM EST. The family will receive friends for a reception following the service in the Bevis Funeral Home Event Room. All are welcome to attend at Bevis Funeral Home, 200 John Knox Rd, Tallahassee, FL. For those unable to be present, her service will be live streamed and then available afterwards. We’re thankful for the loving care provided to Ida through Right at Home and Big Bend Hospice. In honor of Ida's life and the compassionate care she received, the family asks that donations be made to Big Bend Hospice Foundation. Gifts in her memory may be mailed to Big Bend Hospice Foundation, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or submitted online at http://bigbendhospice.charityproud.org/Donate Jessie Hill of Bevis Funeral Home (www.bevisfh.com or 850-385-2193) is assisting the Weinhold family with their arrangements.

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Ida Mae Weinhold

January 15, 1934 - July 18, 2026