Charlene Dawn Goucher

Charlene “Charlie” Goucher passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014 in her home in Orlando, Florida after a long and painful battle with COPD and lung cancer. Charlene was born Charlene Dawn Brewster on November 3, 1952 to Orrin and Thelma Brewster in New London, Connecticut, and known as “Sha” to her family which included four sisters, Cheryl, Cathy, Joy and Marion; and one brother, the late Orrin.

Charlie leaves behind a very sad family consisting of husband Bill, daughters Lynn Dzialo and Crystal Randolph, grandsons Ashton Dzialo, Angel Ayala and Colby Randolph and lovely granddaughters Jasmine and Madison Randolph, as well as Sandy, our Pomeranian, and Chico the Chihuahua.

Charlie was a most caring and giving person who would do anything for anyone, especially family and seniors. She was very active in the Senior Healthcare industry. Starting out in 1987 as an office manager for a combination independent living, assisted living and nursing home, she gained the resources, training and knowledge to become the Administrator in 1993. Charlie acted as Administrator/Executive Director of various sized assisted living facilities, which included ownership of three facilities. Charlie was very active in the Florida Assisted Living Association, as a member of the Board of Directors since the 1990s, and President of the local chapter in 2006 and 2007. Charlie was a staunch advocate of resident’s rights and focused on them personally as an ALF Director.

Charlie was a fanatic over Christmas, decorating the entire house, including using all the table space she could find to display her Christmas villages and collections, most especially the Christmas tree which was almost now exclusively decorated with Hallmark ornaments which she kept track of what they were, what year she got them and from whom. Charlene had 164 Hallmark ornaments, plus 44 Hallmark miniatures. We were happy to see her enjoy one final Christmas before she passed away.

Charlie also collected the beautiful Harbour Lights lighthouses until they went out business in 2012. Anywhere we went on vacation, she would have to visit all the nearby lighthouses. For those reasons, it seemed appropriate that her final resting place will be within a lighthouse urn. At her wish, the ashes of her beloved Sassy, a Maltese, are comingled with her own.

All that knew Charlie, or Sha, loved her and will never forget her. It is such a loss to us all. Charlie will live forever in all of us.