Battaglia, Catherine Jean “Jeanie” passed away on February 9, 2025 after fighting a long, difficult battle with Melanoma. She was predeceased by her loving husband Anthony S. Battaglia who passed on September 15, 2014. 

She was born June 11, 1944 to Naomi Catherine Strieby Beckman and Staff Sergeant Francis Eugene Beckman who was killed in action while serving with the 3rd Army in the Battle of the Bulge.  

Her mother, two sisters, and beloved step father, Miles W. Bierce, who served with her father in WWII, moved to St. Petersburg, FL the same year she enrolled in first grade. She was a member of Allendale United Methodist Church where she participated in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, sang soprano in choir, and attended Bible school.

At the young age of sixteen, following her own mother’s passing, she found her strength through the love and support of both sets of wonderful grandparents.  Quite active in her youth, she was often called a “tom-boy” and though she loved the beaches, her heart was pulled by her favorite memories of summers on her grandparent’s farm in West Virginia and visits to Daddy Gene’s family in Cumberland Md. Those very memories were the subject of many Christmas cards she created over the years.

In life she earned top merit badges in Girl Scouts while lettering in sports and band.  She was a May Queen, a Drum Majorette, and a Homecoming Queen.  In 1962 she graduated from Northeast High School where she was voted Top Senior and received a Commercial Arts Scholarship to Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, FL and the Good Citizenship Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

As a professional, she was an Account Executive for R.K. Johnson and Company selling municipal bonds. One of her first clients was Anthony S. Battaglia with law offices on Central Avenue.  In 1972 they were married and began raising their family in the old Pasadena neighborhood in St. Petersburg. 

In Jeanie’s words… “Nothing quite compares to gifts tucked into life’s everyday moments; a perfect sunset… that good hot cup of coffee… or hearing a favorite song that makes you feel happy just to be.” The Battaglia home was a setting for such moments as a gathering place for endless celebrations for family and loving friends.  They hosted weddings, galas, and benefits to include political fund raisers for the Republican Party, black tie events for PARC, the St. Petersburg Opera Company, and the Heart Association. A favorite among friends and colleagues was her annual open house Christmas party for the Battaglia, Ross Law Firm where laughter could always be heard above the joyful caroling.

Dedicated with her husband to bringing opera to St. Petersburg, she was a founding officer and created the Guild of Pinellas County of the San Carlos Opera. Their first production, where Mr. Battaglia greeted a sellout crowd in his red tuxedo, was La bohème which used many Battaglia home furnishings for their lavish stage sets. She also acted as a past officer and board member of the Florida Opera Company and founding officer of the Florida Opera League.

Active in the community, Jeanie was an officer of the Pinellas Children’s Home Society and founding officer of the Arthritis Research Institute of American Auxiliary. She held memberships with the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and Bayou Club and was a long time supporter of PARC, Operation PAR, The Children’s Home and the Beth Dillinger Foundation.  She also found joy on heading up various decorating committees.

Jeanie cherished her role as a homemaker, devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  Beyond her love of cooking, she indulged in gardening, even planting fruit trees and a vegetable garden with lots of oregano and basil for pasta sauce. It was her passion for sewing during her school years and working days, that found her sewing outfits with matching purse covers. This talent lent to her husband’s first Christmas gift, a hand-sewn satin burgundy smoking jacket and later to the creation of an interchangeable hand bag company with her daughter.

She often said, “The greatest accomplishment in my life is raising a wonderful daughter and son.  Seeing that reflected in my grandson and granddaughter brings me joy.”  

She is survived by her daughter Christina Xenakis, (Sean) and grandchildren Austin and Annika of St. Petersburg, her son Marc Anthony, (Kirsten) of Ruskin, sister Peggy McFadden of Tampa, and is predeceased by her older sister Becky Plummer of Missouri. She is also survived by step-children Skip, Sandy Hultgren, Brian, Brenda Battaglia, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

A gathering of remembrance will be held on February 14, 2025 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Anderson McQueen Funeral Home, 2201 Dr. M.L.K. St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33704 followed by a private burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery for family only.  In lieu of flowers, a gift to any charity would be appreciated.