Mrs. Fern Dian Chapin-Agostini

Fern Dian Chapin-Agostini, January 12, 1941- May 11, 2015. Fern was born in Fall River, Massachusetts and grew up in Harvard MA, where she graduated high school at the Bromfield School. Fern later lived in Northampton, MA, where she was a Girl Scout Troop leader, ran a popular home day care, and was a respected member of the community. In 1973, Fern moved to Florida. There she opened an alternative pre-school, Learning Space, which she operated for several years. Fern maintained relationships with parents and children from Learning Space throughout her life. After selling Learning Space, Fern became the director, and later an administrator, for Hillsborough Child Council Rainbow Centers , an affiliation that lasted 23 years. She made great contributions to this innovative program, and was profiled in the Tampa Tribune. While working full time, Fern graduated with a BA in Human Development from Eckerd College , and a Master’s degree in Social Work from USF –Tampa. Ultimately, she became an LCSW and opened her own counseling practice. It was in her own practice that Fern blossomed; she took great pride in her work as therapist, and many people attribute the healing of their relationships and families to the help Fern lovingly and tirelessly provided. Although she worked more than most people, even working while receiving chemotherapy for her cancer, Fern still found time to develop other skills and hobbies. Over the years, she was a painter, a potter, a sailor, a scuba diver, and in her last years, an avid golfer. Fern excelled at anything she tried her hand at, from art to sports—the one exception might be singing. But she loved music and would not hesitate to sing off key to any song on the radio—she knew them all, no matter the genre or decade. In addition, she loved travel and adventure, and in her lifetime visited cities around the U.S., as well as South America, Central America, and Spain. Her family and friends could always depend on her returning with stories that would knock them to the ground with laughter. Fern never lost her sense of humor; it sustained both her and her loved ones (and her doctors!) through her long and difficult illness. Above all, Fern had great generosity, and there was always room for one more family member in her home. We have a joke, that if you’re in, you’re in—never mind break ups, divorce, moving away—once you are part of Fern’s family, it’s for life. And she gave generously to her family, helping with everything from diapers to dance lessons to iphones to trips to Disney World. It was precisely because of Fern’s enthusiasm and generosity that holidays at her home, particularly Christmas, were such spectacles—we were beyond blessed every year, as Fern gathered family and friends, grownups and children, to a living room that looked like Santa had tipped his whole sleigh there, and a table of food worthy of any great chef serving a party of hundreds. Fern is survived by so many who loved her. Most especially, though, by her loving and devoted husband, Glenn Agostini; her children, Heather Jones, Mark Jones, Holly Oakes, and Dean Jones (and wife Kelsey), foster son Erick Feliciano, and step daughter Kerri Agostini Drain (and husband Jay); her grandchildren, Grier Gay, Violet Gay, Abigail Oakes, Brooke Jones (and Brooke’s mother Robin Jones, brother Brandon Gallo, his wife Heather, and their children Mia and Morgan), Carson Oakes, Mikaela Drain, MaKenzie Drain, Sage Jones, Asher Jones, MaKenna Rose Drain, Gabriel Jones, and Roman Jones; and by her great granddaughter, Eris Babel. She is also survived by her sisters, Robin and Lynn. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 29 at 3:00 P.M. with reflections at 3:30 P.M. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 CR 39 S, Plant City. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Mrs. Fern Dian Chapin-Agostini

May 11, 2015

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Mrs. Fern Dian Chapin-Agostini

May 11, 2015

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