Peter Charles Spera joined the heavenly orchestra of angels on September 11th, 2016, following a battle with lung cancer stage 4, after smoking for years and exposure to Agent Orange in Viet Nam. As a Specialist 5, he served in the United States Army from 1968-1974. Beloved husband & soul mate to Patrice for 39 years, the true love & the light of her life. He also leaves behind his niece & nephews Kris, Rob, Alex & Benji Lim of Naperville, sister Karen Shaub, brother David & "outlaws" Mary Ellen Fogle of Largo, Timothy Helwig of Ocoee, Dee & Keith Jones of N. Fort Myers, Bernice & Ed McNeill of Largo, Gary Helwig of Hernando, Corey, Ross & Michael Helwig, Kayla, Fonda, Isabella & Jionni Argyriadis & Dustin Helwig as well as their cat's AB and Zoe, many cousins, friends, Reenee & the Rollers: his family of musicians & a house full of stuff we have no idea what to do with. He was greeted in heaven by his parents, Rita & Ed Spera, in-laws, Bill & Gerry Helwig, his Army buddy, Bill Vaughn. Pete was a talented artist, musician, & shy loving man with a huge heart and boundless creativity. Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Alas, his battle with cancer prematurely subsided his drawing, volunteering & playing percussion. We will miss his humor, his quirks, his love and generosity, & his politically insightful interpretation of government. Our lives are a lot less joyful.

There will be a beachfront Celebration of Life on October 8, 2016 at 6pm, Please contact the family for further details. A private burial will be held in the Caribbean. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to Tampa Bay Ukulele Society http://www.meetup.com/tampabayukes/, The Big Cat Rescue in Tampa or Suncoast Hospice.

"My Life"
There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more

In my life I love you more.

"Promises"

You promised me you'd always be there.
You sat there, in that chair and promised me.
Large as life, ebullient, robust;
they were the words that sealed your promise
You stood by the shore
As we laughed and squealed with delight as
you picked up rocks and tossed them with ease
Splashing us with expectations of your invincibility.
You were invincible. Weren't you Peter?
Or was it just a trick of time
That made me believe that you could live forever?

by David Chadwick Rites of Passage

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die:
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to break down, and a time to build up:
A time to weep, and a time to laugh:
A time to mourn and a time to dance:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

John:14: 1-7