Charlene Eloise Stanton, age 63, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2012 at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, FL after a 4 year battle with metastic breast cancer. Charlene was born November 8, 1948, in Bronx, NY to the late Robert Muñoz and Carmen Vazquez Muñoz.

Charlene is survived by her husband, Dennis Leveson Stanton I; children: Luis A. Marrero, Cynthia Marrero Perez, and Lovelynn Marrero Nieves; stepchildren: Dennis L. Stanton II, Lathan L. Stanton, and Terrance Thompkins; 13 grandchildren; sisters Catherine Maltes and Cecile Hagerty; brother Robert Muñoz Jr.; and a number of other relatives and close friends. Aside from her parents, she was preceded in death by her older sister Celeste Parrón.

On June 14, 2000, Charlene and Dennis were married and they bought a home together in Milton, FL. She loved to be around family and with her children living in different states, she cherished the times when she could have all of her children and grandchildren together.

Charlene began her 30 year nursing career in Med-Surg and went on to the fields of Geriatrics, Oncology, and Psychology – the field where she was most passionate. Charlene was affectionately known by her family and friends as ‘Charlie’. She always loved to sing and dance. When she was young, she sang as a soprano in the choir and chorus. She also loved makeup and jewelry and had a large collection of both. She especially loved gemstones or anything shiny and colorful. She made it a point to collect jewelry of every color imaginable and loved to mix and match to coordinate with all of her outfits. She also loved to cook, especially Puerto Rican food. She stayed close to her Puerto Rican culture.

She had such a sweet caring nature, but prided herself on her spunky New York attitude. Over the past 16 years living in the south, she really stood out with her Bronx accent and sarcastic humor. She always got a kick out of the reactions she would get from her coworkers and patients. They couldn’t help but love her because she told it like it was and didn’t beat around the bush. She also had a laugh and smile that were infectious.

Although we know she is now living in peace, our hearts can’t help but ache for the loss of such a beautiful and genuine person. As a tribute to Charlene, the family has decided to forego a funeral service and has created a webpage in her honor on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website for Breast Cancer research. Memorial donations may be made at www.info-komen.org/goto/charlenestanton2012. Please feel free to share any fond memories you have of Charlene or words of encouragement for the family as well as photos or videos.

She will forever be in our hearts. May she rest in peace.