Iva Jean (Penny) McCole's Obituary
Iva Jean (Penny) McCole, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025, at the age of 91. Born on December 17, 1933, in Perrine, Florida, Jean grew up surrounded by love, tradition, and family roots that shaped the woman she became.
Early Life & Family
She was the youngest of seven children born to Madison (Matthew) and Lola (Molly) Penny, who were married on November 26, 1911, in Hahira, Georgia. The couple moved to Perrine in 1915, where Jean’s father operated Penny Farms, a tomato farm that sustained their family and their community.
Growing up as the youngest in a large, lively household—with her sisters Edna McLane of Miami, Hazel Dennis of Jacksonville, Virginia Browning of Homestead, and Marguerite Menard of Cutler Ridge, and her brothers Fred M. Penny and J. Randall Penny of Perrine—Jean learned early the values of loyalty, resilience, humor, and deep family connection. Her Southern upbringing and her identity as a tomato farmer’s daughter stayed with her throughout her life, often heard in the warmth of her voice and the stories she told.
Jean’s life changed the night she attended a dance with her sister, Marguerite. There, she met a young Air Force serviceman, Bernard “Bernie” McCole. The two fell deeply in love and were married on December 30, 1952—a New Year’s beginning to more than 68 years of devotion, partnership, and shared joy. In a loving and almost storybook symmetry, her youngest sister Marguerite married Bernie’s best friend, Bill Menard, and the two couples remained intertwined throughout their lives, eventually retiring as next-door neighbors on Riley Lake in Hawthorne, Florida.
Love & Family Legacy
Jean and Bernie raised five children together, each one cherished beyond measure:
Mary Frances Stroud (Sunrise, FL),
Kevin Patrick McCole (Lakeland, FL),
Teresa Lynn Regan (Brandon, FL),
Brenda Jean Zorros (Gainesville, FL),
and Keith Bernard McCole (Melrose, FL).
Her love multiplied across generations, blessing her with 11 grandchildren (Genevive, Shawn, Matthew, Heather, Todd, Shannon, Brooke, Gerald, Lauren, Amanda, Kyle) and 11 great-grandchildren (Autumn, Farrah, Natalie, Summer, Sailor, Eleanor, Kaiden, Kinzley, Alaina, Cohen, Aria).
Jean loved her family deeply and fiercely. They were her joy, her purpose, and her greatest source of pride. She spoke often of each grandchild and great-grandchild, remembering every milestone and every story. She is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her beloved husband Bernie, and her granddaughter, Genevive Stroud.
Her Gifts, Spirit & Faith
Jean had a gift for caring for others. In her early years as a mother, she became the trusted neighborhood babysitter, welcoming countless children into her home. Later, she was involved for many years with the Hawthorne Women’s Club and the Red Hat Society, and she was a devoted member of Hawthorne’s St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.
In February of 2025, the City of Hawthorne recognized Jean as one of its treasured elders, honoring her at a community ceremony celebrating residents over the age of 90 who had contributed to the life and spirit of the town. The tribute acknowledged what her neighbors had long known, that longevity is not just measured in years lived, but in the love, generosity, and presence one gives to a community.
But where her love was felt most deeply was at home.
Her home was a gathering place filled with warmth, laughter, and the smell of something wonderful simmering on the stove. Jean was known for her Southern cooking, and the kitchen was her domain. Fried green tomatoes sizzling in a skillet, hearty chicken and dumplings on a Sunday afternoon, hummingbird cake cooling on the counter, and bowls of ambrosia stirred with love—these were the flavors of home. Anyone who stepped into her kitchen knew two things: they were loved, and they’d better not get in her way while she cooked.
Jean’s creativity extended far beyond the kitchen. Her older sister, Hazel, taught her how to crochet and sew, and the skill became one of Jean’s lifelong gifts to others. When her five children were small, she sewed many of their clothes by hand, making sure they had something made with love. She also made blankets, afghans, and quilts by hand—each stitch a quiet act of love. Many in her family still wrap themselves in the blankets she made, feeling her warmth and care woven into every thread. Creating things with her hands was her way of nurturing, giving, and expressing love without needing to say a word. For Jean, making something for someone was the purest form of affection.
She found joy in small, beautiful things—hummingbirds at the window, frog figurines collected and admired, and the dolls that reflected the innocence and sweetness of childhood. As the youngest of seven children, she was a true “momma’s girl,” and she never outgrew that bond. She spoke of her mother often, sharing stories of home, and the simple comforts of being near her. After she married Bernie and they began their life together, she even admitted to becoming homesick just a week later and returned home to see her mother—something the family still lovingly remembers. Even late in life, Jean’s mother remained close to her heart. She spoke of her with tenderness, gratitude, and a longing that never faded. That love shaped who she was: loyal, nurturing, sentimental, and deeply connected to where she came from.
Jean’s personality was unmistakable. She was a “spitfire” in the best way—spirited, funny, talkative, and unafraid to say exactly what she thought. She was selfless and generous, the kind of person who would give a stranger the shirt off her back, a meal from her table, or the last dollar in her purse if she believed it would help. She lived her life in the quiet, everyday practice of love, kindness, and service—the kind of goodness that shapes lives and leaves lasting imprints.
Jean was a woman of deep and steady faith. Her relationship with God was personal, lived quietly and sincerely in the way she cared for others. She prayed every night, naming each of her loved ones one by one, asking for their protection, peace, and happiness. It was her way of holding her family close, no matter how near or far they were. Her faith was steady, constant, and woven into every act of love she gave.
Jean especially loved the songs “The Rose” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” She connected deeply with the quiet strength and tenderness in their words. Like the rose that blooms after being patiently tended, Jean nurtured those she loved with steady, gentle care. And for her family, she truly was the wind beneath their wings—lifting, supporting, encouraging, and believing in them always, often in ways that were quiet but deeply felt. Her love helped them grow, become, and rise. That is the legacy she leaves in every heart she touched.
Lake Riley & Her Lasting Legacy
As the years passed, Jean and Bernie built the life they had once only dreamed of.
Jean and Bernie’s home on Lake Riley became the heart of the family—a place where the door was always open and everyone knew they were welcome. Being outdoors was a way of life for them from the very beginning. When their children were growing up, weekends were often spent camping, boating, and being together in nature. That love of the outdoors continued into their later years, when they bought an RV and took their grandchildren to state parks across Florida, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Bernie even named their pontoon boat “Jean’s Dream,” because that’s what their life together was—a dream built around family, simplicity, laughter, and the joy of being together in God’s creation. Their home on the lake was a refuge, a gathering place, a legacy of belonging.
For more than 45 years on Riley Lake, Jean built a life of faith, family, community, and care. Her legacy is one of generosity, resilience, devotion, and joyful spirit.
She gave endlessly.
She loved deeply.
She lived fully.
She will be remembered forever… with gratitude, with laughter, and with love.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. 7919 US-301, Hawthorne.
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