Beatrice A. DeFreitas-Newton, 88, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Consulate Health Care of Port Charlotte.

She was born Oct. 31, 1923, in St. Kitts, West Indies.

Beatrice moved to Port Charlotte 11 years ago from Tallahassee, Fla. She was a woman who knew what she wanted in life and when she wanted it. Beatrice and her husband John DeFreitas owned a supermarket for many years in St. Pauls, St. Kitts, West Indies, before retiring to Florida. She was a lovely person with a huge heart, and an inspiration to all her family and friends. Beatrice will forever be missed by all who loved and knew her.

She is survived by her daughters, Gertrude (Alvin) Hodge of Port Charlotte, Caroline (Douglas) Richardson of Atlanta, Ga., and Violet (Charles) Estridge of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; sons, Winston DeFreitas of St. Kitts, Franklin (Julia) DeFreitas of Port Charlotte, Lanvin (Yvette) DeFreitas of Manassas, Va., and Lincoln (Gail) DeFreitas of Ontario, Canada; 21 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. until the funeral services at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Murdock Christian Church, 17500 Elmwood Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33948. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte. Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to sign the memory book and extend condolences to the family.

Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.